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kristinamae093 · 5 months ago

Text

Ghosted

Ghosted — Betrayal (Chapter Twelve)

Series Summary - Prince Liam fell for Riley Brooks hard and fast. A marriage filled with love and devotion was within his reach, but everything changed when she vanished just before the end of the social season. As everyone voices their concerns regarding her scandalous departure, a confession from an unlikely source turns Liam's world upside down and makes him question everything around him.

Book/Pairing - TRR - Liam x f!MC (Riley Brooks)

A/N 1 - This AU starts right before the beginning of the engagement tour. There is a two-month lapse between the coronation and where we pick up, but we will stray from canon. Please excuse any errors found. Not beta'd.

Characters belong to Pixelberry.

Tags - @choicesficwriterscreations

It's another long one 😬👉👈🥹. Oops.

Liam and Drake closely followed as the guards led Bastien into the depths of the Portavirian estate. The halls remained eerily quiet as the nobility slept; not a soul to be found other than those involved with Penelope’s homicide investigation. Neither male spoke a word, but both reeled in this blindsiding revelation.

The betrayal Liam felt was like no other. Bastien was like a father to him, always around when he needed someone, but now he wondered if he ever knew him. Bastien saw him at his lowest and protected him at all costs, but somewhere along the way he changed; he couldn’t determine when that shift happened or if his guard was that good of a deceiver from the start, and felt like a fool for not seeing his insubordination sooner. It didn’t matter what he said, nor how much he pleaded; Liam already knew he was guilty, but didn’t know the extent of his involvement.

So many unanswered questions ran rampant through his mind, but ultimately the one he cared about was, where is Riley? The scandal was no longer relevant; all that mattered was finding her and ensuring she was safe. Justice would be served to all who deserved it later but right now, she was the top priority. That wasn’t a new revelation, but the urgency suddenly skyrocketed.

Liam did his best to stay afloat, but couldn’t stop his mind from wandering. If Riley was still in the country, what did that mean? Was she being held hostage somewhere? Would a ransom note appear at some point? Is she even alive? The continuous spiral intensified and formed a vortex of frustration and confusion, enveloping him from the inside out. He wanted to scream and cry to the heavens, anything to relieve some of the never-ending tension slowly constricting his muscles. Every second that passed without knowing she was safe, he grew weaker, feeling control slip right through his fingertips. The never-ending vat of unanswered questions took their physical and mental toll on Liam as a monarch and man alike.

However, every ounce of strength that remained pushed him forward. The adrenaline coursing through his veins mindlessly carried him, as he and Drake walked in deafening silence.

They continued until they entered a dark room with a table and two chairs. The guards sat Bastien down on one side and secured shackles in place over his wrists, much to his displeasure. Liam took the seat that mirrored his, shooing the bystanders out as he did. Drake lingered close by, reeling in his feelings of hurt, betrayal, and anger. Bastien quieted, but his entire body went rigid after his former subordinates exited the room. Liam placed his hands on the table and stared at them for a long while, trying to slow the wild rush inside his mind.

He finally raised his head and spoke to Bastien in the flattest, calmest tone he could muster. “Do you know why you’re here?”

“I don’t, sir.”

“First, let’s talk about Penelope. You and I both know she did not take her own life, so I’m curious to know how you came to that conclusion.”

Bastien furrowed his brow. “Not to be forward, but she was literally hanging from the ceiling… We found a note in her room, and she had every reason to want to do it — considering she was about to be arrested.”

“Right… Speaking of that… I want to see that report again.”

“Pardon?”

“The report — the one that says Penelope’s DNA was all over the murder weapon because honestly, I think you’re full of shit.” Liam hissed.

“I most certainly am not, sir. The documents are in the security office. If you remove these cuffs, I will gladly retrieve them.” Bastien confidently responded.

“That won’t be necessary.” Liam knew if he told the truth, Olivia would find them and if she didn’t, Bastien just caught himself in another lie. “Now, the next order of business — where were you the night of the jamboree? I don’t remember seeing you at all.”

Bastien stiffened. “I was doing security checks around the estate—”

“If you were doing security checks, how’d a rogue photographer make it in?” Drake interjected.

Bastien swallowed thickly, his gulp echoing in the silence. “... What?”

“You heard what he said — answer the damn question.” Liam snapped.

“She must have—”

“She?” Liam interrupted with a chortle. “That’s funny — because I never mentioned gender. Do you know something that I don’t?”

“I only took a guess — there was a fifty percent chance I would be correct.” Bastien calmly, yet firmly, answered with a dismissive shrug. “I’m not precisely sure how they breached the perimeter, but we’ve been working to strengthen our units ever since.”

“Right…” Liam nodded and forcefully clenched his jaw. It took every ounce of his restraint not to reach across the table and wrap his hands around Bastien’s throat because he couldn’t trust a single word coming out of his mouth.

Drake spoke again before Liam could act on his intrusive thoughts. “What about the Apple Banquet? Where were you then?”

“I was with His Majesty while he spoke to the Beaumonts. Someone alerted me to the body, and I immediately sprung into the proper protocol.”

“No, not when the maid was found — earlier. Where were you before that?” Liam demanded.

Bastien hesitated, but quickly fixed his features. “I was addressing an issue regarding Countess Madeleine’s security arrangements. Her old guard needed to take personal leave, so I had to find a suitable replacement.”

“... And she will vouch for you?”

“Yes, sir.”

Liam’s frustration skyrocketed, as he didn’t know how to take that statement. The number of people he could trust seemed to only shorten by the day, yet Madeleine was never present, nor even an honorable mention on that list; the time to trust her word was not amid this chaos.

“Okay, then—” Liam started again, his agitation noticeably rising. “Do you know where Riley is?”

“I don’t, sir. All I know is she returned to New York, and—”

“How did you come to that conclusion, exactly? Because I’ve done some digging and found nothing to point to that. There are no traces of her after she left the jamboree whatsoever, Bastien; not flights, not vehicles — nothing.”

Bastien shifted in his seat. “My information led me to that conclusion, Your Majesty.”

“Well, your information was wrong, and I can’t help but feel you knew that all along, didn’t you?”

“I’m not sure what you’re insinuating, but—”

“You knew she didn’t return to New York because you took her away, right? Is that how she made it out undetected? Or are you the one who assaulted her?” Liam thought back to his out-of-body experience and remembered the shadow lingering in front of her door. “Or did you stand guard while it happened? Is that it?”

“I did no such thing.” Bastien hastily replied, but cleared his throat and added, “What would I gain from any of this? Why would I give a damn who you choose?”

“That’s kind of what I’m wondering.” Drake inserted with a skeptical eye. “Look, Bas — I don’t want to believe you had a hand in all this, but it’s not looking good, man.”

“What doesn’t look good?” Bastien returned. “All I’ve done is look for her! I’ve been trying to help you!”

“Bullshit,” Liam seethed. “You know something and I demand you tell me — right now.”

“I know nothing, sir. I’ve kept you updated on every piece of information uncovered.”

“You need to understand something —” Liam's breaths turned heavy and his face flushed every shade of crimson. “I am not fucking around. This is your final opportunity — if you know something and do not tell me, I will serve your head on a silver fucking platter at the next state function. Is that clear enough for you?” He rumbled through clenched teeth. The hand he raised to point at Bastien visibly trembled, as the dam broke and rage flowed freely through his body.

Bastien’s eyes widened, and he visibly swallowed. He quickly composed himself and softly answered, “I understand the circumstances have been — tense — for everyone involved. You’ve had a rough couple of weeks, and —”

Liam slammed his fist onto the table and shot up from his seat. “Do NOT fucking patronize me!” He bellowed.

The door suddenly swung open and Olivia marched inside. In her hands, she carried a folder along with a few smaller items, but her facial expression was the picture-perfect image of unrestrained fury. “You have a lot of explaining to do.” She rumbled as she bore her eyes into Bastien.

Never could she have imagined the man sitting before her would betray them in such a way, but now they had proof; undeniable, unavoidable, but yet — incredibly unsettling evidence.

Bastien audibly gulped as he recognized the documents and all traces of pigment in his complexion vanished. With so much going on, he didn’t have the chance to dispose of everything properly. Liam and his group of friends moved faster than anticipated, and with their unexpected changes to the tour, he fell behind. The important information was extracted long ago, but what remained was still very incriminating — for Bastien.

Powerful forces expected him to pull off the impossible, but he was only one person — how was he supposed to fend off four people, plus a hired professional? Multiple ends that should’ve received immediate attention didn’t. Penelope ranked fairly high on that list, but his concerns got cast aside. His instructions were to deflect, deter, and stay silent regarding the madness; trust the process and your reward will be bountiful, they would say. Regardless, he didn’t want to aid in this crazy scheme, but had no choice — they knew information about his past nobody should have uncovered, so he found himself backed into a corner.

But as Bastien stared at the evidence of his transgressions, he realized silence would no longer be an option. He knew one way or another at that moment he was as good as dead; the question was would it be at the hands of his seething monarch, the man he practically raised, or the people who made his life a living hell to begin with?

Olivia rifled through the things on the table until she found what she searched for. “Remember when Bastien told you he disposed of Riley’s phone and her note?” She held both items up to show everyone along with her letter, noting how the guard immediately tucked his chin into his chest. “The penmanship matches mine, meaning it’s the same as Penelope’s.”

Liam forcefully clenched his jaw. “You lied to me?”

“That’s not all,” Olivia continued. “Bastien told us Penelope is the one who killed the maid, but that’s not true. Sure, the gum was hers — hair too — but the funny thing is that as it turns out, there are two sets of results on that knife.”

“There’s not—”

Olivia cackled, cutting Bastien off. “Don’t even try to lie. I’m holding what appears to be the real results in my hands. What kind of moron keeps the original if he’s planning on cloning it to frame someone else? Fucking nitwit.” She shook her head, distaste lacing her words. “Of course, we’ll have these confirmed for legitimacy, but considering who this one lists as the culprit, I can see why you’d want to cover this up.”

Liam snatched the documents from her and scanned them. His eyes widened as he went through the text, his jaw falling further and further the longer he read. Penelope's fingerprints were on the murder weapon, but unlike the last report he saw, this one went more in-depth. Her DNA might've been on the knife, but only one or two barely distinguishable smears on the blade itself belonged to her. However, the lab noted prominent traces from someone else located everywhere, but mostly on the handle, indicating that their person of interest should be whoever the second set of prints belonged to.

But Liam never received this report, and when he read who the database found as the owner of that second set of prints, he realized why he wasn’t shown.

“It was you…” Liam gasped, finally tearing his attention off the file to center his glare on Bastien. “Why?”

Bastien remained silent. He kept his gaze locked on the table, but the sweat forming on his brow wasn’t unnoticed.

“We know why, Liam. He was trying to shut her up because she spoke with us. And that’s why he offed Penelope too — right, Bastien?” Olivia answered. “Dispose of the loose ends before they can out you?”

“I did not harm Lady Penelope in any way,” Bastien stated with utmost determination, looking directly into Olivia’s steely eyes as he did.

“But you know who did, and you were working to bury that too, correct?” She quickly retorted, arching her brow.

Bastien clenched his jaw and looked away, refusing to speak, but he didn’t need to — Olivia knew she was right.

“You can deny those accusations all you want, but the next ones will be fairly difficult to talk yourself out of,” Olivia snapped as she produced another file and showed it to everyone.

“Operation Ghost?” That title caught Liam’s attention, and his mouth fell agape when he read it. He flipped through the papers inside and realized this was a meticulously planned mission, not a coincidence. While he spiraled deeper into the abyss, further away from reality, intentional carnage ran rampant within his court, and it was all a part of the elaborate plan from the beginning.

Someone plotted to hurt Riley and take her away from him, and that thought momentarily left him breathless.

“Apparently so,” Olivia answered, remorse cracking through her stony features upon seeing Liam’s broken shock. She’d already searched the file and knew what lay ahead, but didn’t know how he would react; it wouldn’t be good regardless. “Someone altered or destroyed most of this —” She paused to throw a death glare at Bastien. “But… There’s something else…”

“What is it?” Drake inquired as he and Liam took in her hesitancy, causing the hair on the nape of their necks to stand at attention.

With a heavy sigh, Olivia opened an envelope and produced a few smaller documents. She slammed them down on the table one at a time, directly in Bastien’s downward cast line of vision. “Here’s Riley’s ID, her passport, and even her goddamn credit cards. Now tell me, Bastien — how did you think she got to New York without those?”

Liam snapped his head over to her. “What?!” He snatched the items off the table and stared at the photo on Riley’s passport in his trembling hands, his heart rate taking flight.

His worst fears suddenly became reality, because he knew it would’ve been impossible for her to get out of the country without identification. This confirmed that Ray was right; she never left Cordonia. Of everything he suspected of Bastien, the things he knew and worked to cover up completely blindsided Liam. It hurt him in a way he didn’t know was possible, to be betrayed by someone he put every single ounce of his trust in.

Plus, had it not been for Olivia and Ray, he probably would have gotten away with it, too. The thought alone created a forceful swarm of guilt as Liam realized once again — this was what he ignored for so long. His breaths turned shallow as his mind took this new information and ran with it, automatically assuming the worst and with no signs to point in a different direction, he couldn’t find any strings of hope no matter which way he looked.

The waves came crashing down, sending him into an instant spiral of equal parts devastation and fear. He swayed on his feet, but eventually lowered himself back into his chair, willing the wild rush to slow.

“What the fuck is this?!” Drake exclaimed, smoke nearly barreling out of his ears. “Where is she?!”

“I don’t know.”

“Bullshit! She couldn’t leave without this! You’ve been lying to us all along!”

“I did what I had to,” Bastien returned, his voice devoid of all emotion. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“What did you do to her, Bastien?!” Olivia reiterated. “You can’t deny you know something — if she’s in danger, you need to tell us so we can find her!”

“I did nothing to her! All I did was escort her from the premises to the airport — that’s it.” Bastien huffed, immediately regretting the slip-up, which earned him a unanimous gasp.

“What did you just say?” Liam rumbled with clenched fists, his daze of self-hatred shattering on the spot.

Bastien hesitated but realized it was useless to redact. “I said I escorted her from the premises—”

Liam lunged for him without a second thought. He slammed his face into the table and held him there with all his might by the back of his skull. “So you not only knew, but you fucking helped too?!”

“I did what I had—”

“You son of a bitch!” Liam yelled as he lifted Bastien’s head, only to bounce his cheek against the table with increased force. “I trusted you!”

Bastien tried to respond, but Liam swiftly continued. “You have manipulated and made a fool of me for the LAST fucking time! I told you what I’d do, yet you still lied to me? YOUR MONARCH?!”

Again, Bastien attempted to speak, but Liam wasn’t quite finished. “This WHOLE TIME… You’ve known — you fucking helped — but you continuously led me astray.”

“Sir—”

“YOU DO NOT SPEAK OVER ME!” Liam bellowed, slamming Bastien’s head a third time.

A long silence passed as Liam securely held Bastien by the back of his neck, using more force with every passing second. He saw nothing but blood — everything that would’ve gotten covered up ran through his mind; the murders, Riley, and what seemed to be a never-ending list of other possibilities.

Finally, Bastien timidly sliced through the tension. “Sir, I’m willing to tell you what I know and what I’ve done in exchange for safety. If you do not ensure my life, I will be dead within hours.” He pleaded, preparing to meet the table again. “You have no reason to trust me now, but I will tell you what I can…” He emphasized.

Liam met eyes with Olivia and Drake, a silent conversation taking place. In all honesty, nobody cared what happened to him after the fact; all that mattered right now was getting Bastien to talk by any means necessary. Whoever wanted him dead was more than welcome to finish the job, but not until after he confessed.

Liam released him with a shove but never said a word. Instead, he strode back to the chair across from Bastien and slowly retook his seat. When Liam lifted his head, the pure fury staring back at him slightly took Bastien aback. The patient presence he’d grown accustomed to was long gone, replaced by a man driven to the brink of insanity. Those typically bright baby blues were now dark, vicious, and wild — nearly animalistic as his stare tore through Bastien. It sent a shiver of dread down his spine and made him momentarily fearful of his usually calm and composed king. His head throbbed, but he knew that would not be the worst of what he received — regardless of whose hands he suffered from.

Liam intently held his gaze for a long moment, clenching and unclenching his jaw, but finally spoke in an eerily calm voice. “... Tell us.”

Bastien strode through the country jamboree with an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach as he recalled what would happen tonight. A suitor would be removed from the competition, with or without her cooperation. The trap was loaded and ready to go; all they needed was the prey — Riley.

Bastien located Penelope in the crowd and watched her approach Riley. She was deep into a conversation with Maxwell, but Penelope slipped in and played the part surprisingly well. He recognized her shaky hands even from afar, but she discreetly slipped at least half of the pharmaceuticals into Riley’s drink, unbeknownst to her or Maxwell. He didn’t think that part was necessary, but the force beyond insisted it was essential so they would force her to her room before everyone else.

After a time, Bastien observed as Riley hugged Maxwell and headed toward the estate. He quietly followed behind in the shadows as she walked through the deserted halls to her room, cursing the creaky floorboards underneath his feet, but the woman he trailed didn’t notice a thing. Riley skipped, hummed a tune, and even did a little twirl; she had no cares in the world and had no clue that her perception of a fairy tale was about to be shattered.

As her door shut, Bastien took position outside, crossed his arms, and waited for the job to be completed. Everyone else remained at the party outside; it was his assignment to ensure the vicinity stayed clear. He knew who occupied the room neighboring hers, which only fueled the need to get this done and over with as quickly and smoothly as possible.

People spoke behind the door — the voices escalating by the second — but Bastien made it a point to drown them out. The situation could go one of two ways, depending on Riley's cooperation, and it didn't take long for him to realize she chose the hard way. Although he found it difficult to ignore her pleas for help, his allegiance aligned elsewhere.

After a time, a few gentlemen approached but Bastien allowed them access, as he expected them. He didn’t know who they were, just that they would deal with ‘relocating’ Tariq; his task was Riley. One had jet-black hair, while the other donned a baseball cap. They wore a matching dark ensemble, aside from the hat and one having thick, circular lens glasses. A holster of weapons surrounded their belts, making the hair on his arms stiffen. The pair went inside without a word, but Bastien felt their eyes on him as they entered.

The deafening silence hung for what felt like centuries, but eventually, they re-emerged with their cargo in tow.

“Unhand me this instant!” Tariq demanded as the muscles dragged him away.

“Not a chance, fancy boy.” The man with glasses snickered. “Got a special place for you.”

“I did what I was supposed to do!” Tariq pleaded, his tone changing once he realized the seriousness of his situation. “Please — have some compassion!”

“No can do. Boss’s orders were strict — toss you in a hole and throw those God-awful loafers into the ocean.” The dark-haired male snapped his fingers before adding, “I can leave the shoes on if you’d prefer — put some cement in them and send you both on a journey to the bottom of the Mediterranean.” His delight showed brightly, causing Bastien’s pulse rate to skyrocket.

Tariq suddenly planted his feet firmly on the ground. “DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?! OR WHO MY FATHER IS?” He bellowed. “You won’t get away with this — I WILL ENSURE THAT YOU—”

Out of nowhere, the male with the ball cap hit him with the butt of his pistol, silencing his tirade. Tariq slumped to the floor with his eyes rolled back, blood gushing from his nose in an instant.

“Thank you, Claudius. I couldn’t stomach another second of his useless ranting.”

“You and I both.”

“Get him loaded up — we’re on a schedule and need to move.” Claudius hefted Tariq on his shoulder with ease and quickly left out the servants’ exit. As he disappeared, the remaining man shifted his attention to Bastien. “So… You’re prepared to handle the fallout?”

“Of course.” He confidently responded.

“Are you sure? Because I don't think you understand how messy this situation could get in the future… And honestly? If the boss hadn’t enlisted little Miss Penny, this entire operation would’ve crashed and burned before it even took off.” He rolled his eyes. “You thought she would agree to this just for a spot beside the queen?”

“It might surprise you what people will do to get ahead around here.”

“Yes, but they’re willing to execute better with a little — added motivation.” He flashed a wide, sinister smile. “You should know better than anyone…”

Bastien swallowed thickly, his entire body going rigid. “I’m not sure what you’re referencing.”

“Of course not.” He snickered. “I don’t blame you — I wouldn’t want anyone to know you’re the one who mur—”

Bastien held a hand up. “That’s enough.” He spat out.

The male’s smile widened. “As I said, people execute better with added motivation.” He patted Bastien’s shoulder with a little too much force.

“Was there a point to this?” Bastien rumbled through clenched teeth, shaking off the man’s palm.

“I just wanted to make sure it’s one hundred percent clear — you need to ensure anything regarding this stays buried. If too many people ask the right questions before we reach the finish line and the boss has to get involved again… Well —” He grinned, baring his teeth. “That’d just be a shame, wouldn’t it?”

A chill shot down the length of Bastien’s spine. “What is that supposed to mean? Are you threatening me?”

“You may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but you’re not that stupid — you know what will happen.” He responded, amusement written on his cold features. His almond eyes deepened to black, leaving Bastien momentarily speechless.

“I’m certain that won’t be necessary.” Bastien confidently answered after he regained his composure. His companion nodded with an eerie smirk but casually lingered around the door. “Is there something else I can do for you?”

“I was just wondering about Lady Riley… Where you’re planning on sending her since you received the — opportunity to handle her?” He nonchalantly inquired, acting as disinterested as possible. “Such a great honor you have… One I practically begged for.”

“The States, where she came from.” Bastien’s direction was to ship her back to New York as discreetly as possible. Even though the plan took a drastic turn, that was the one constant that couldn't change because otherwise, they would out themselves for taking the reins and disobeying a direct order. She would land on her feet, start a new life, and forget all about Cordonia. Liam would surely want to search for her, but all Bastien had to do was stall until the coronation, when their cover for removing Riley would come to light.

“I see, I see… Well, hopefully, that works out for her.” He smiled, the sight raising goosebumps on Bastien’s arms.

Before Bastien could respond, the door creaked open, and a hooded presence strode out. He paid Bastien no mind, instead focusing on the dark-haired male. “Let us vacate. The party is nearly over, and we have tremendous amounts of work ahead of us if we want to pull this off.”

“What about the court? We can’t go back to —”

“Do not fret, Anton… We have a plan… Trust the process; this is only the beginning. Everything will work out as it should in due time, but we must move — now.”

The pair quickly walked away, but not before Bastien heard Anton loudly whisper, “About that — pit-stop…” to his companion.

Bastien momentarily pondered that statement, but shook off the queasiness inside his stomach, concluding they must be referring to Tariq. As he stared at Riley’s door, a brief flicker of guilt traveled through him. Riley did nothing wrong, and he knew that, but this is the task he regretfully accepted. It was not a personal vendetta, by any means, but this clueless woman aimlessly landed herself in the middle of the nobility; she didn’t understand the untold, dark side of the court and its inhabitants, but would learn on this day.

Bastien cautiously opened the door and entered to find Riley on the edge of her bed, cradling her side. She snapped her head over to him as she heard his footsteps, and her eyes filled to the brim with tears when she met his gaze. He once again fought a wave of remorse at seeing her hopeful expression, knowing he was not the knight in shining armor she assumed he was.

“Bastien, you—you have to help me… Please…” Riley croaked. Her words came out slightly slurred, although it surprised him that the earlier sedatives hadn’t taken a harder effect.

“I’m going to, Lady Riley. First, I need to ensure you’re not carrying anything on you.”

Bastien assisted Riley to a standing position, which she slowly did without question. He didn’t know exactly what transpired, but she had a gash on her side, blood soaking through the thin hoodie she wore. With her permission, he checked the wounds, none of which were bad enough to seek immediate medical attention. Her face was littered with cuts, surely bruises to follow with time, as one of her cheeks was already tinted with a light purple. He started at her shoulders and patted down to her abdomen, but stopped when he felt something in her pocket and pulled out her phone. He nonchalantly slipped the device into his jacket, but despite his best efforts, Riley watched him do it.

“That is my property! You can’t take that!” She protested.

“I’m afraid I can… You are to leave completely empty-handed. Now, we have to get going — you have a flight to catch.” Bastien placed a hand on Riley’s arm to lead her away.

Riley firmly planted her feet in place, shaking away his grip. “Don’t do this, Bastien!”

“You have no choice in this matter and we’re on a time limit,” Bastien replied as he checked his watch.

“What about all my stuff?”

“As I said, empty-handed.” He didn’t understand that part either, but concluded it was easier to shove her on a plane with no items to accompany her.

“On whose authority?!” Riley exclaimed. When he didn’t answer, she reiterated, “Who told you to do this to me, Bastien?!”

“That is confidential information.”

Riley snorted, her frustration written all over her face. “Bullshit! At least be man enough to tell me!”

“Fine. You want to know who did it?” He held her glare, letting the tension linger, but finally answered, “It was Liam.”

Riley stepped away as if she took a blow to the gut, but her devastation quickly morphed into the polar opposite.

Riley laughed; hard enough that tears spilled down her cheeks. “You expect me to believe that? Liam? Of all people?” She shook her head, slightly bouncing from her chuckles. “You think I’m that naïve and stupid?”

“Believe what you will, that matters not to me but my instructions were simple, so we must get moving.” He stated, very matter-of-factly.

“Bastien,” Riley pleaded, any signs of amusement suddenly disappearing. “Don’t do this. I’ll just — I don’t know!” She cried, anxiety prominent in her features. “I won’t say anything to anyone — I swear on my grandmother’s life! Or–or we can tell Liam! Whatever got you wrapped up in this, he will understand.” She reasoned. “Please — you don’t have to conform. We can find a way out of this together.”

Bastien considered it for a second, but ultimately gave Riley a sad smile and nudged her toward the door. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks, but he remained firm. He quickly dropped her phone and the pre-written note he received inside her bedside table and went to the threshold, stepping over shards of glass from a broken planter and a bloodied garment.

Leaving her phone there meant it would be an immediate dead end for Liam and her sponsors. He would want to call her — possibly track her — but this ensured that door was closed before it could even be opened. It was a distraction tactic to keep the prince occupied until his reason for her departure would present itself to him, where hopefully, he would drop the matter for good.

Bastien held her stare for a moment before he cleared his throat, emphasizing the need to move. Riley hung her head and eventually slowly walked out the door, quietly sobbing as she did.

Bastien led her down the long hallway toward the servants’ exit, as their SUV waited close by. Riley was incredibly unsteady on her feet, whether it was from the earlier medication or her injuries, he wasn’t sure, but he held his hand out to steady her wobbly steps on multiple occasions. He glanced back and locked eyes with the maid he summoned to clean the area, and even with his dark sunglasses, he still spotted her apprehension. The interaction was brief as he and Riley reached the end of the hallway, but something in his gut said he would have to deal with that later.

Assisting Riley down the stairs turned out to be tricky, as she was in an incredible amount of pain. By the end, he hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her the rest of the way down. She didn’t yell or scream, not that it would have mattered if she tried; the party still ‘raged’ in the opposite direction, leaving the vicinity barren of wandering ears. If she got combative he had a plan for that as well, but was glad she opted to cooperate, instead of throwing a tantrum and meeting a fate similar to Tariq.

He sat her on her feet when they emerged outside and escorted her to the vehicle, quickly securing her inside. He used no restraints, but she didn’t resist one bit; almost as if she’d accepted her fate, or her body just didn’t have the strength to fight back. There were no remnants of Tariq or anyone else, but Bastien moved with fire under his feet as if someone lurked right around the corner.

Within the blink of an eye, they were at the airport, where Bastien unloaded her from the back of the car. The entire ride he heard Riley’s sniffles from the backseat, but he drove faster — to unload this package and hopefully, this would be a straightforward operation. Once she was out of the vehicle his job should be done, unless too many questions arose.

Bastien parked toward the back of the abandoned parking lot so the only thing on security footage would be Riley entering the airport. With his connections, he knew exactly where the cameras were and discreetly slipped into a blind spot. Riley could hardly stand as he pulled her from the vehicle, but that was not his concern.

He did his part — all she had to do was walk inside and leave Cordonia forever.

He shoved a small envelope into her hands and said, “Here is your ID, passport, credit cards, and a ticket to New York. It’s been a pleasure, Lady Riley.” And with that, Bastien turned on his heel and returned to his vehicle, speeding away before he could second guess his decision.

He glanced back in the rearview mirror and saw the silhouette of a woman standing there disoriented, wounded, alone, terrified, and defenseless, but quickly averted his gaze, centering on the road. He nearly pushed his foot through the floorboard to get away faster, but bile rose into the back of his throat as a chilling realization sat in; he didn’t know how, but this was far from over, and the chances of him making it to see his next birthday just substantially dwindled.

“I assumed she boarded the plane, but I later received her identification and credit cards in a sealed envelope from an unidentifiable source. I tried to help her… I really did…” Bastien finished with his head bowed.

“No, you sure as shit did not!” Drake bellowed, a mix of fury and shock written on his features. “I can’t believe you!”

Bastien flinched. “I did what I had to do—”

“Where is she, then? Because she never got on that fucking plane, Bastien!” Olivia hollered.

“I don’t know! I told you everything I know about it! I tried to find out, but I can’t!”

“This is fucking unreal.” Drake shook his head and scoffed. “You expect me to believe you really don’t know? You have her ID! Her goddamn passport!”

Bastien forcefully clenched his jaw. “I received them before the tour in a sealed envelope. I don’t know where it came from and I can't trace its origin.”

Drake scowled. “We’re supposed to believe that?” He looked away and rubbed a hand down his face, his frustration steadily rising. “Let’s say I do — you chose to keep that to yourself? You didn’t think that was worth mentioning when we opened an investigation into her goddamned disappearance?!” He over-enunciated, sarcasm dripping off every syllable.

“What was I supposed to do, Drake?!” Bastien responded, but couldn’t fathom meeting his eyes for even a brief second.

“Not be a spineless piece of shit, for one,” Olivia answered. “For two, you could’ve refused to cooperate from the beginning. Or, told the truth, regardless of what would’ve happened to you then… Or, made sure she got on the plane, at least. You drugged her and left her for dead, Bastien! Who knows where she’s at by now?! Do you realize how much time we’ve wasted because of you?!”

“I did not drug her or leave her for dead—”

“But you didn’t fucking stop it either, and that’s just as damning in my eyes,” Drake spoke in a bland, empty voice as he tried to comprehend this betrayal. “I don’t know what happened to you, but you’re not the man I used to look up to, not anymore… I can’t believe you did this and continuously lied to us about it!”

Bastien slouched. “I never lied—”

“Bullshit! You’ve done nothing but lie! You’ve gotta stop and tell us the truth for once!”

“I told you everything I know, everything I’ve done. I killed the maid and had every intention of Lady Penelope taking the fall — I’ve led you astray and tampered with evidence — I admit it.”

“I don’t care about any of that shit right now!” Drake shouted. “We wanna know what you did with Brooks, Bastien.”

Bastien sighed. “Drake, I told you, I don’t know where she’s at! She was supposed to go inside and board the plane!”

“But you didn’t wait and ensure she did, at least?” Olivia asked with an arched brow.

“I didn’t think I needed to! After what I heard coming out of that room, I assumed she would run inside to get away… If anyone knows, it’s probably that Anton character!”

“Anton…” Olivia repeated, her curiosity peaking. “What do you know about him? And the other guy? Claudius?”

“Absolutely nothing. I’d never seen them before and haven’t since. All I know is they were in charge of relocating Tariq.”

“And you don’t know where that is, either?”

“No, I don’t. I didn’t ask questions, and I wasn’t told. I ran their names in the system to see if I could figure anything out, but they’re ghosts — there aren’t even medical records with either name on it.”

Olivia scoffed. “So, why do it, then?”

“I have my reasons…” He finally gathered the courage to take a peek in Drake's direction, but when he spotted the wild blaze of fire in his eyes, swiftly glanced away.

“Yeah… Okay…” Olivia indignantly laughed. “So was this your idea, or were you working under someone else’s watch?” He didn’t reply, but she and Drake noticed his shoulders tense. “That’s all the answer I need. So who is it? Who’s pulling the strings here?”

Bastien shook his head. “That I can’t tell you.”

“You’re already a dead man no matter which way you look at it, so you may as well just tell us. If you do, there is the tiniest chance that you may receive mercy,” Olivia growled as her hand instinctively reached for the dagger hidden in her waistband.

“I’m aware of that, but I cannot tell you.”

“Bas, you need to fucking—”

“Damn it, Drake, I can’t!” Bastien shouted. He knew the pain Drake felt was nothing compared to what he’d feel if he knew the truth, but he refused to open that can of worms.

Liam remained eerily quiet as he listened to Bastien retell the events of that night. To say he was fuming would be the understatement of the millennium. Bastien’s continuous misleading and knowledge of Riley being drugged, assaulted, and potentially still in Cordonia sent Liam overboard. Not to mention, he basically left her for dead in a parking lot. Bastien did all of that; he may not have physically harmed her himself, but he stood guard, let it happen, and actively worked to cover it up, making Liam physically sick to his stomach.

The all-consuming rage he tried to control reached its boiling point. He was no longer asking nicely — he was demanding.

Liam slowly stood from his chair, the loud screech halting the surrounding bickering. He leaned over the table on his knuckles and positioned himself at eye level with his former guard. “You told her that I did it?”

Bastien’s eyes spread eagle. “I just needed to get her out of the door… I assumed that would get her to leave willingly, but she didn’t believe a word I said.”

Liam indignantly laughed, the sound sending waves of uncertainty through everyone in the room. “So it wasn’t enough to physically break her — you had to pile emotional pain on top, too?”

“Sir, she did not believe me,” Bastien reasoned. “She knew you would never do such a thing. It was only a last-ditch attempt on my part to get her out.”

Liam mindlessly nodded, ignoring the new wave of dread filling his veins. He’d convinced himself even through all this madness, when they reached the bottom of this intricate web, there was still a slight chance Riley could love him back, but that hope burst into flames instantaneously. Regardless of whether she believed the lie, he was more determined than ever to find her, ensure her safety, and make sure she knew he played no part in this. He had no intentions of hiding his prolonged negligence of the situation from her, but wasn’t willing to let her hate him over something he had no part of.

Liam took a deep, steadying breath and spoke in a low, timbre rumble. “I’m ordering you to tell me who orchestrated all this, Bastien — you owe me that much.”

Bastien remained silent for a long moment as he held his monarch’s intent gaze. Eventually, he sat back in his chair and broke eye contact while pursing his lips together. “Damn it, tell me!” Liam shouted, his voice echoing against the concrete walls.

Bastien hesitated, as he quickly planned his path from here. The potential to get caught was always there, and he thought extensively about what he would do and who to say in this situation. His secrets fueled a small portion of his decision, but the majority centered around fear. He wouldn’t be safe either way but would take his punishment from the crown. Aside from keeping his skeletons inside the closet, to defy the — others — would essentially put nails in his coffin, just waiting to be hammered in. He’d seen firsthand the carnage they were capable of; a couple of treason charges were nothing in comparison.

But if he pointed them in the right direction, it wouldn't be him outing the culprit.

The tension lingered but right when Olivia opened her mouth to push, Bastien quietly answered, “It was your father…”

The room went silent; not a single breath to be heard. Olivia took in the steadfast determination in Bastien’s features and knew for once — he wasn’t lying. And it made some sense; Bastien was purely manpower, not an active brain contributing, and Constantine had the power to force him into anything. However, she instantly knew the former monarch was not the person behind that door with Riley.

Constantine was in high demand and there was no way he could’ve slipped away from the jamboree that early unnoticed. Olivia recalled that night, and to her knowledge, Constantine retired at the same time as Liam. Plus, if they believed Liam’s out-of-body experience to be reality, Constantine was right beside him while the attack took place.

She believed him but also realized while he told the truth, he didn’t tell all of it. There was more to the story, and she intended to get any and every ounce of information out of him, no matter what it took.

Olivia opened her mouth to address Bastien, but Liam beat her to it. “My father?” He repeated, confusion showcased brightly on his face.

“Yes, sir,” Bastien softly spoke. “I know that may be hard for you to hear, but—”

“Shut the fuck up!” Liam suddenly bellowed as his shock quickly morphed into dangerous fury. “You’re still trying to lie?!”

Bastien’s eyes widened. “I swear to you — he’s the one who told me to send her back to New York.”

Liam shook his head, his face reddening with every sullen breath. “No… You’re just trying to cover your own ass, that’s it!”

Bastien sighed. “I don’t expect you to believe me, but that is the truth. Your father is the one who—”

Liam paced the small area, his racing thoughts spiraling out of control. “My father would not do this, regardless of how strongly he felt about it. This is fucking evil and deranged — he is a lot of things, but he would never do something like this to me.” He seethed. “So I will ask you one final time — who was it?”

Silence commenced once more, but Bastien eventually answered. “I told you who it was. If you choose not to believe me, that’s your prerogative. I did what he ordered me to do.”

Fast as lightning, Liam brought his fist up and connected with Bastien’s jaw. He went around the table and hit him again, and again, until Bastien was on his knees with his head dangling in between his still cuffed hands. Liam didn’t care if he killed him or not at that moment; all that mattered was exacting revenge on behalf of his beloved, even if she wasn’t there to witness it. The monarch checked out, replaced by a vicious beast — a starved one, at that.

Liam saw nothing except Riley’s face, the sound of her cries from his out-of-body experience echoing in his mind. His hand throbbed as he relentlessly took his frustrations out on Bastien, but he barely felt it because of the pure hatred and adrenaline pumping through his veins.

Olivia and Drake watched, exchanging worried glances as Liam continued his assault. Both felt incredible amounts of anger toward Bastien, but they saw the bits of truth. Liam might not want to believe it, but Constantine made the most sense.

However, Olivia wholeheartedly believed Constantine was not the one in that room. He may have ordered Bastien to engage, but deep down she knew he was not the one calling the shots that night. As Liam continued to pummel him, she had half a mind to stop him, but the person taking out his anger on his crumpled guard was not her childhood friend, and even she was hesitant to interfere.

It was Drake who finally intervened, laying a firm hand on his shoulder. “Li…” When Liam shook him off, he tried again with more force. “Liam!”

“Get your fucking hands off of me!” Liam shouted, quickly returning to his mission. Every bone that snapped underneath his fist soothed a portion of his soul, but he wasn’t willing to stop until Bastien felt even a small portion of the pain enveloping his entire being.

The door crept open and Leo went to step inside, Maxwell close behind, but halted when he spotted a bloodied and battered Bastien dangling from the side of the table. Liam continued his attack, completely oblivious to the additional presences in the room. Leo noticed the mixed expressions from Olivia and Drake and quickly pieced a vague conclusion together. Never in his life did he think Bastien could be capable of such atrocities, but clearly they found something to tie him to it.

Leo stepped toward Liam and timidly tapped his shoulder to gather his attention. “Li, we found Penelope. She was headed to the palace with orders for incineration upon arrival, but we stopped it and she should be back soon. I talked with Landon and Emmaline and they’ve agreed to send her wherever you see fit for autopsy. Ray recommended a specialist, but I wanted your input before I started the process.”

Liam finally stopped his assault and stared down at Bastien’s crumpled body with labored breaths. “The amount of which you’re willing to go to bury this is ridiculous! WHO could be that important that you would do all this — risk EVERYTHING for?!” He bellowed, his voice booming against the walls.

Bastien never answered, whether by choice or from his injuries, but a silence took over as Liam really pondered that question for a moment. This wasn’t just some measly scandal anymore; this was an extensive operation concocted to remove the top competitors and ensure he married Madeleine. At first assumption, it would be easy to point a finger at Madeleine herself, but Bastien held no allegiance to her, and the two hardly spoke before the start of the engagement tour. She held no power over him and had no way to get him to bend to her will.

And that was simply too easy — right?

Bastien’s involvement suddenly narrowed down the potential list of suspects, as Liam knew there was a very short number of people he would have no choice but to obey. Despite everything, he didn’t want to believe Bastien willingly did all of this. He expressed feeling some kind of remorse while it was happening, but he still aided and lied about it afterward, making his guilt irrelevant.

He had no reason to trust Bastien, but the more he thought about it, the more his heart accepted the tale.

The betrayal from his former guard was a lot to process, but knowing who could have ultimately constructed the whole thing shredded him into a million tiny pieces. Half of him was ready to unleash a wrath like no other, while the other half wanted to crumple into a ball and cry. His already fragile heart couldn't take the strain; right when he thought this situation couldn't get worse, it did. Someone so close forcefully took something so precious, knowing how much Riley meant to him, and it completely blindsided him.

His back hit the wall and he slid down it, clutching his chest. Leo and Drake quickly moved to catch him, thinking he was having another episode, but Liam shook them off. As everyone took in his dejection, they realized he accepted who their next subject of questioning would be.

“Leo…” Liam swallowed thickly, his breaths rapid and labored. “Tell me — tell me our father wouldn’t do this… He’s not evil, just hard-headed — right?”

Leo winced. “I… I wish I could, Li, but…” He didn’t want to believe it but with Constantine’s infatuation with the throne, he couldn’t put it past him. Their father was never malicious, but he had a control problem regarding the crown; Leo knew firsthand.

But would he go this far?

Liam let out a forceful huff of air and ran his hands down his face, trying and failing to keep his tears at bay. “I — I thought it was bad that Bastien betrayed me, but — him? Why would he do this?”

“I want to answer that, Liam, but I’m not the person to ask… One way or another, you know we have to confront him…”

Liam grimly nodded. “I know… I just — what if he is the one who did all of this? What am I supposed to do then, Leo?”

Leo remained silent for a long moment, gathering his thoughts, but was to no avail, as he genuinely didn’t have an answer. “I don’t know, Liam… I really don’t…”

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belencha77 · 2 months ago

Text

CAPITULO 54 - AMOR EN EL AIRE 🔥Ⓜ️

<<Punto de vista de Liam>>

En este punto, sentía que los nervios me estaban consumiendo. Normalmente, tengo un buen autocontrol, pero por primera vez estaba luchando con ello. Con mi mano temblorosa, saqué una caja de terciopelo roja del bolsillo. Me arrodillé frente a Riley, y ella comenzó a llorar de manera descontrolada, colocando sus manos sobre su boca.

|| He esperado toda mi vida por ti. Siempre he querido casarme por amor, no por una alianza o algún tipo de ganancia política. Cuando me convertí en el Príncipe Heredero... || Hice una pausa, tratando de controlar mis emociones. || Sabía que sería difícil casarme por amor. Pensé que tendría que casarme por deber, por la corona y el país. Pero llegaste tú... || Sonreí y abrí la caja, mostrando el hermoso anillo que había traído. Tomé su mano izquierda entre las mías mientras ambos temblábamos. || Y no tuve duda alguna de que podría tenerlo todo contigo. Riley Marie Brown, reina de mi corazón, he anhelado decir estas palabras durante mucho, mucho tiempo... ¿Quieres casarte conmigo? || Riley se quedó sin palabras, sus ojos llenos de lágrimas y emoción. Asintió vigorosamente con la cabeza, incapaz de hablar al principio || ¿Eso es un sí? || Pregunté con un toque de nerviosismo, pero ella se rio y lanzó un gran suspiro.

|| ¡Sí! ¡Un millón de veces sí! || Gritó con júbilo, lanzándose hacia mí y abrazándome con fuerza, su risa y sollozos entrelazados en un torbellino de emociones. || Me casaré contigo... Seré tu esposa. || Yo sonreí y rápidamente deslicé el anillo de diamantes talla princesa de seis quilates en su dedo || Oh, Dios mío, ¡es tan hermoso, Liam! || Exclamó, admirando el anillo con ojos llenos de asombro y amor. Y nuevamente comenzó a llorar al mirar su dedo. Me reí entre dientes mientras la levantaba del suelo, atrayéndola hacia mi pecho y besando la parte superior de su cabeza.

|| Este era el diamante del anillo de compromiso de mi madre. Lo puse en una nueva configuración para ti. ||

|| Me encanta, Liam || susurró. || No puedo esperar para ser tu esposa. ||

|| Será la primera boda real desde que mi padre se casó con mi madre hace tantos años. || La miré fijamente a los ojos, su expresión era completamente ilegible salvo por su sonrisa, más brillante que nunca. Mi corazón se hinchó de emoción y la volví a levantar en mis brazos, haciéndola girar en el aire. || ¡SOY EL HOMBRE MÁS FELIZ DEL MUNDO! || Grité con fuerza, mientras ella reía de emoción.

|| ¿En serio? ¡No lo creo! || bromeó Riley. La acerqué rápidamente para besarla profundamente, pero también de manera tierna y apasionada. Sostenía su cuerpo apretado contra el mío mientras ella envolvía sus brazos alrededor de mi cuello, hundiéndose en mi abrazo. Después de lo que parecía una eternidad feliz, nos detuvimos para respirar. La deslicé hasta el suelo, pero aún envuelta en mis brazos, su frente apoyada contra la mía || Liam, te amo tanto. ||

|| Y yo a ti, Riley, te amo demasiado. ||

|| Pensé que el anillo de tu mamá lo tenía Madeleine. ||

|| Jamás podría habérselo dado, ella recibió otro… El anillo de mi madre estaba destinado solamente para la mujer que amo, y esa eres tú. || Tomé su rostro entre mis manos, mirándola fijamente. || Cuando pienso en todo lo que nos llevó a este momento, no puedo evitar estar asombrado por ti. No hay nadie a quien prefiera tener a mi lado ||

|| Eso es bueno, porque ciertamente no pienso dejarte nunca... Y no puedo esperar a ver qué tipo de vida podemos construir juntos, Liam. Me llena de emoción poder compartir mi vida contigo. ||

|| No tengo ninguna duda de que no solo eres la elección correcta para mí, sino también para ser la Reina de Cordonia. Serás la mejor Reina y duquesa que Cordonia haya tenido. || Al decir esto, ella me miró confundida.

|| ¿Duquesa? ||

|| Así es, mi amor. Uno de los beneficios de ser Reina es que, al llegar a Cordonia, serás nombrada duquesa. Hay algunos ducados no reclamados, y se te legará uno como parte de convertirte en mi reina. Eso es solo uno de los muchos beneficios que vendrán. Creo que los disfrutarás. || Le dije con una inmensa felicidad.

|| ¿Y uno de esos beneficios es casarme contigo? || Me dijo con una amplia risa, haciendo que yo riera igual.

|| Bueno, ese es uno de los principales. || Respondí mientras ella se acercaba más a mí, tomando mi rostro entre sus manos y acariciándolo suavemente. Me dio un tierno beso en los labios.

|| Liam, casarme contigo es el único beneficio que me importa. || Me dijo, y aún no puedo creer la maravillosa mujer que he encontrado. Muchas, como Madeleine, buscan la posición y el renombre. Pero a Riley no le importa nada de eso. La miré asombrado y sorprendido.

|| Pensé que estarías complacida también con la perspectiva de tener tu propia casa y tierras... Pero ciertamente no me quejaré si me prefieres a mí. Los arreglos aún están en progreso, pero no te imaginas lo ansioso que estoy por mostrarte tu nuevo ducado. Tengo el ducado perfecto para ti. || Le dije, pero de repente, la idea de sus sentimientos hacia Drake volvió a mi mente. ¿Qué pasa si Riley no solo lo ama como amigo sino como algo más? ¿Estoy dispuesto a compartir?

|| Liam, ¿qué pasa? || me preguntó, su voz llena de confusión y preocupación.

|| Riley... || Suspiré, sintiendo cómo la inseguridad y el miedo me consumían. || No puedo evitar sentirme aterrado por lo que sientes por Drake. Quiero que seas feliz, eso es lo más importante para mí, pero cuando Drake se entere de que nos vamos a casar, se va a sentir miserable. Existe... bueno, tú sabes que tenemos el acuerdo Cordoniano, en el que yo podría ayudarlos a los dos. Aunque me duele profundamente, estoy dispuesto a dejar que Drake y tú tengan los momentos que necesiten. || Mis palabras salieron con un nudo en la garganta. Riley me miró, sus ojos llenos de admiración y sorpresa, dio un paso atrás, observándome con atención.

|| Liam, ¿por qué me estás sugiriendo esto? || Dijo, frunciendo el ceño mientras yo me pasaba la mano por el cabello, tratando de encontrar el valor para continuar.

|| Riley, tu felicidad es lo más importante para mí. Como he dicho muchas veces, Drake es como mi hermano. Siempre me ha apoyado y respaldado. Sé que dije que no me gustaría compartirte, pero quizás hacerlo sea una manera de apoyar a Drake de la misma forma en que él lo ha sido conmigo. Pero... || Mi voz se quebró un poco. || No puedo soportar la idea de que te alejes de mí, incluso por un momento. Aun así, estoy dispuesto a hacerlo porque quiero darte todo lo que necesitas, incluso si eso significa compartirte. || Bajé la mirada rápidamente, sin poder creer lo que acababa de proponer.

|| Liam, mírame... || dijo Riley con lágrimas en los ojos, tomando mis manos con fuerza. Lentamente levanté el rostro para encontrarme con sus ojos.

|| Cuando te dije que sí a tu propuesta, no fue solo de labios para afuera. Quiero ser tu esposa, tu Reina, tu pareja, tu amante. Quiero ser tuya por completo. || Su mirada se suavizó y acarició mi mejilla. || Lamento tanto haberte herido así… No era mi intención. Me ilusioné, me enamoré y me confundí con Drake y… || Cerró los ojos con fuerza, como tomando ánimo. || Y sí, estuve con él. Pero fue un error. Me dejé llevar por mis sentimientos y emociones. Pero como te dije, el amor que siento por él no es el mismo que siento por ti. Ahora te pertenezco solo a ti, Liam. No quiero a otro, soy tuya completa y totalmente a partir de este momento. ||

|| ¿Lo dices en serio? || La miré con nostalgia mientras mi voz temblaba de emoción.

|| Lo digo en serio, mi amor… Soy solo tuya. || Me sonrió y se inclinó, trazando sus labios sobre mi cuello, mandíbula y hasta llegar a mi boca. Nuestro beso fue suave al principio, pero luego se volvió más firme. Riley de repente empujó su cuerpo contra el mío mientras yo pasaba mis brazos alrededor de su cintura. Mis labios y lengua se mezclaron con los suyos.

|| Eres mía, || susurré, || ¡toda y solamente mía por siempre! ||

|| Así es, hasta que la muerte nos separe, mi Liam… mi Rey, || me dijo suavemente. Apoyé mi frente contra la suya mientras la miraba con ternura.

|| Mi Riley… mi Reina, || suspiré, recordando que tenía una última parada en mente. Aclaré mi garganta. || Cierto, tengo un último plan para la aventura de esta noche... claro, si eso es lo que mi futura Reina desea. ||

|| Usted manda… mi Rey. || Me dijo y tomé su mano y comenzamos a caminar de regreso al helicóptero.

|| Tendremos un hermoso paseo para ver Nueva York en su esplendor desde los cielos y luego una cena privada en la suite presidencial del hotel. ¿Qué dices? Deseo seguir disfrutando de esta hermosa velada juntos antes de anunciar al mundo nuestras noticias. ||

|| No hay nada más que me encantaría hacer. ||

Al subir al helicóptero, las luces de la ciudad empezaron a brillar como estrellas en un cielo despejado. El piloto despegó suavemente, y pronto estábamos volando sobre el imponente horizonte de Manhattan. La vista era impresionante: rascacielos iluminados, puentes resplandecientes y el río Hudson reflejando el brillo de la ciudad.

|| ¿Cuál es tu parte favorita en Nueva York? || De repente pregunté.

|| Mmmm tendría que decir que conocerte... || Dijo y me reí mientras que ella me miraba levantando una ceja || Es en serio, no te rías… cuando vivía aquí, pensé que no podía haber nada más emocionante que la vida en la gran ciudad, pero luego conocí a un guapo extraño en un bar y la palabra aventura adquirió un significado completamente nuevo… Liam, eres el regalo más grande que esta ciudad me dio ||

|| Mi amor, tú eres el mayor regalo que me ha dado la vida... || Le dije y Riley me apretó la mano, sus ojos brillando con emoción y amor || Quería que esta noche fuera inolvidable, una celebración de nuestro amor en el corazón de una de las ciudades más emblemáticas del mundo ||

|| Es perfecto, Liam. Todo esto es perfecto. Esta ciudad siempre tendrá un lugar especial en nuestros corazones ¿Verdad? ||

|| Así es… Siempre tendrá un lugar || Le dije con certeza.

Al aterrizar en el helipuerto, una limusina nos esperaba para llevarnos de regreso al hotel. Llegamos al The Langham, donde la suite presidencial estaba preparada para una cena privada. La habitación estaba decorada con velas y flores, creando un ambiente íntimo y romántico.

|| Después de ti mi Reina, todo esto es para ti, || le dije, tomando su mano mientras nos sentábamos. || Porque quiero que cada momento contigo sea tan especial como tú lo eres para mí. ||

Riley me miró, sus ojos llenos de amor y gratitud.

|| No puedo esperar a pasar el resto de mi vida contigo, Liam. Eres mi todo. ||

<<Punto de vista de Riley>>

Disfrutamos de una cena exquisita en la que el tiempo pareció detenerse para nosotros. Fue una noche en la que nos sentimos completamente libres, como si no hubiera nada que nos atara. Estábamos solo él y yo, sin preocupaciones, sin miedos. Después de la comida, nos entregamos a una balada romántica que parecía haber sido escrita para nosotros. Nuestros cuerpos se movían al ritmo de la música, pero lo que realmente se podía sentir era el latido sincronizado de nuestros corazones, palpitando de alegría y amor.

Liam me miró con una profundidad que me conmovió. Su sonrisa era una promesa de amor eterno, y lentamente me incliné hacia él, nuestros labios encontrándose en un beso que se volvía cada vez más ardiente. Sus brazos me envolvieron con fuerza, como si quisiera fundirse conmigo en un solo ser. Cada toque, cada caricia, estaba cargado de una pasión que habíamos estado esperando tanto tiempo.

Nos separamos un poco, nuestras frentes aún unidas, y su voz vibraba con una felicidad incontrolable.

|| Estoy tan feliz de poder besarte con libertad, sin miedos. Si quiero hacerlo en público, ahora lo haré sin restricciones, || me dijo con una mirada que era a la vez ardiente y tierna.

|| Yo también soy feliz, pero… ¿Qué te parece si hacemos esto? || Le susurré mientras lo empujaba suavemente hacia la cama. Lo presioné contra ella, mi cuerpo sobre el suyo, y me incliné para capturar sus labios en un beso ferviente. Era un momento cargado de electricidad, nuestros labios se encontraban en una danza apasionada. Liam se apartó un poco, su mirada llena de deseo y devoción.

|| Riley, nunca te he deseado más que en este momento. || me dijo con voz profunda y cargada de emoción, mientras tomaba mi rostro entre sus manos. Nuestros ojos se encontraron, intensos y llenos de un deseo palpable. Me acerqué lentamente, mis labios buscando los suyos, y al contacto, sentí una oleada de emoción recorrer mi cuerpo. Sus labios eran cálidos y suaves, y su lengua trazó un camino en mi labio inferior que envió escalofríos por toda mi columna. Coloqué una mano sobre su pecho para encontrar estabilidad mientras el deseo se apoderaba de mí.

En un movimiento rápido y decidido, me encontré debajo de él.

|| Te deseo Liam, con todo mi ser || susurré, mi voz temblando de emoción y anhelo.

|| Tus deseos son órdenes para mi || respondió, su voz cargada de una promesa ardiente. Usó una mano para apoyarse contra la cama, mientras la otra trazaba líneas de fuego desde mi mandíbula hasta mi cuello y pecho. Su beso era voraz y urgente, como si intentara apoderarse de cada parte de mí. Comencé a desabotonar su camisa, mis dedos temblando ligeramente mientras me incliné para besar su oído y cuello. Un gemido se escapó de sus labios, resonando en mi oído y avivando aún más el deseo entre nosotros.

Poco a poco, nos fuimos despojando de nuestras ropas, cada prenda caída era un paso más hacia la intimidad completa. Nos quedamos desnudos, el calor de nuestros cuerpos fusionándose en un abrazo que nos envolvía por completo.

Coloqué mis manos en sus caderas, guiándolo mientras se hundía en mí. Cada movimiento suyo estaba lleno de una intensidad eléctrica que me recorría, desde la punta de mis pies hasta la cabeza. Sentí un hormigueo incontrolable que me envolvía, y los gemidos de placer se escapaban de mis labios, intensificados por los suyos. Mi cuerpo se arqueaba, moviéndose en perfecta sincronía con el de Liam, y en ese momento, nos fusionamos en una unidad completa.

Tras un tiempo, nos hallamos envueltos en una intimidad serena. Yacía entrelazada en los brazos de Liam, sintiendo una paz profunda que llenaba cada rincón de mi ser. La tranquilidad de la noche envolvía la habitación, y el calor de nuestros cuerpos juntos era el único consuelo que necesitábamos. Cada respiración se volvía un susurro compartido, cada latido un eco de nuestra conexión.

|| Me alegro de que estés conmigo esta noche, || respondí con una sonrisa sincera, acariciando su pecho.

Nos miramos a los ojos, compartiendo un tierno beso que reflejaba nuestra profunda satisfacción. Lentamente, el sueño comenzó a arrullarnos. Liam me atrajo aún más hacia él, envolviéndome en su abrazo con un afecto protectora. Sus brazos se ajustaron alrededor de mí como un refugio, y yo me acurruqué contra su pecho, sintiendo el ritmo calmado de su respiración.

Con el suave y constante latido de su corazón como mi guía, nos dejamos llevar por la serenidad de la noche. La calidez de su cuerpo era mi alivio, y el silencio compartido era un manto de calma que nos envolvía. En esta noche de unión y tranquilidad, nos sumimos en un sueño profundo y reparador, sabiendo que, finalmente, éramos solo nosotros.

A la mañana siguiente, me desperté con la suave sensación de la mano de Liam envolviendo la mía. Al abrir los ojos, vi su mirada llena de amor mientras contemplaba el anillo en mi dedo. Sus ojos se encontraron con los míos, rebosantes de ternura.

|| Buenos días, mi amor. || Su voz era un susurro lleno de ternura.

|| Buenos días, guapo, || respondí con una sonrisa radiante, mi corazón rebosante de felicidad mientras admiraba el anillo. No podía creer que, tras todo lo que habíamos pasado, estábamos finalmente comprometidos.

|| ¿Estás feliz? || Liam me preguntó, su sonrisa mostrando un destello de esperanza y amor.

|| Más de lo que podrías imaginar, || le contesté, inclinándome para besarlo con suavidad. Sentí la profundidad de mis sentimientos en cada toque de nuestros labios.

|| ¿Lista para regresar a casa? Tenemos que hacer un gran comunicado de prensa. ||

|| Muy lista… ¿Podemos avisarles a nuestros amigos después? || pregunté, sintiendo que este momento era solo nuestro.

|| En realidad, no quiero apresurarme. Quiero disfrutar de este instante contigo ahora mismo. Quiero desayunar contigo, ducharme contigo… Luego, cuando estemos en el jet y estemos por llegar, podemos reunirnos con ellos y compartir nuestra noticia. ¿Te parece? || Liam me besó tiernamente en la frente, su mirada llena de amor y promesas.

|| Claro que sí, es perfecto. || Asentí con una sonrisa emocionada, abrazándolo con fuerza. Sentí que cada segundo a su lado era un regalo, un sueño hecho realidad.

Algunas horas después, estábamos de regreso a Cordonia en el jet real. Maxwell y Hana me bombardearon con preguntas sobre la noche anterior, pero les dije que tendría que esperar hasta que llegáramos a casa para compartir detalles.

En medio del vuelo, el mensaje de Drake volvió a mi mente con fuerza. ¡Oh, no! Con toda la emoción de la noche, había olvidado por completo que había escrito para vernos. Decidí acercarme a él.

|| Hey, Drake, || le dije mientras me sentaba a su lado.

|| ¡Oh! Hola, Brown… ¿Todo bien? || me preguntó, con curiosidad en su voz.

|| Sí, todo bien. Quería disculparme por no contestar tu mensaje de ayer. La verdad es que tuve un montón de cosas que hacer y, sinceramente, me olvidé de hacerlo || Le dije, sintiendo el peso de mi descuido.

|| No te preocupes, lo entiendo… || respondió, tratando de ocultar su decepción. || Al ver que no tuve respuesta, supuse que no irías. ||

|| Lo siento tanto. ¿Era algo urgente? ¿Te gustaría hablarlo ahora? || le pregunté, ansiosa por resolverlo.

|| Mmmm… || me miró con una mezcla de curiosidad y duda, como si estuviera tratando de encontrar las palabras correctas. || Se podría decir que no es tan urgente… Pero podríamos hablarlo cuando lleguemos a Cordonia, si te parece. ||

|| Perfecto, suena bien. Hablamos allá entonces. || Le sonreí y le apreté la mano antes de regresar a mi asiento. Hana estaba acurrucada cerca de Maxwell y Liam estaba en la sala de conferencias. Aproveché para descansar en una de las camas, dejando que el cansancio de la noche anterior se desvaneciera mientras me preparaba para lo que nos esperaba en Cordonia.

Un tierno beso en la frente me despertó suavemente, sacándome de un sueño profundo. Al abrir los ojos, me envolvió una sensación de tranquilidad, aunque aún sentía el ligero cansancio de tantas horas de sueño. Confundida, me pregunté por qué Liam me despertaba con un gesto tan dulce.

|| Amor… Tuvimos un pequeño desvío, pero estaremos en casa muy pronto || me dijo Liam con suavidad. A medida que sus palabras penetraban en mi mente, me di cuenta de que había estado dormida sin darme cuenta, inmersa en un sueño reparador.

|| ¿Desvío? || pregunté, algo confundida. || ¿Por qué un desvío? ||

|| No te preocupes, no es nada grave. Solo quería avisarte que te espero en la sala de conferencias. He solicitado a todos que se reúnan allí antes de llegar para tener un pequeño desayuno juntos. ||

Asentí con la cabeza, agradecida por su preocupación. Liam me dio un dulce beso en la frente antes de dejarme. Me levanté para ir al baño, deseando refrescarme para el desayuno que nos esperaba. Miré mi reloj: eran alrededor de las seis y media de la mañana en Cordonia. Con emoción y anticipación, me dirigí a la sala de conferencias, donde todos ya estaban reunidos, charlando animadamente y con miradas expectantes. Les sonreí con entusiasmo al entrar.

|| Chicos, ¡realmente me alegra tanto verlos a todos aquí! Nueva York fue una montaña rusa de emociones, pero anhelo dejar atrás los hoteles y regresar a mi hogar en Cordonia. Y, por supuesto, estoy deseando ver a mi Chance. Lo he extrañado mucho… || Miré a Maxwell con cierta preocupación. || Por cierto, Max, ¿cómo está Chance? ¿A quién se lo encargaste? || Maxwell me miró con una expresión de tristeza y algo de inquietud, lo que hizo que mi corazón diera un vuelco. || ¿Maxwell? || pregunté, sintiendo una creciente preocupación.

|| Este, mi Flor… ¿Recuerdas que te comenté que tenía malas noticias que decirte? Bueno, resulta que cuando viajé a buscar a Tariq, encargué a Chance con el personal y se lo llevaron a Cordonia. Pero a él no le agradó en absoluto y… el pequeño se escapó. Aún lo siguen buscando || Maxwell me miró con tristeza, y mi angustia se reflejó en el silencio que siguió a sus palabras.

|| ¿¡QUÉ!? || exclamé, horrorizada y llena de angustia. || ¿Maxwell, por qué no me lo dijiste antes? ||

Maxwell se acercó y me abrazó por el costado, arrodillándose cerca de mi asiento.

|| No quería alarmarte más de lo necesario… Solo iba a preocuparte aún más, como lo estoy haciendo ahora. Están haciendo todo lo posible por encontrarlo, te lo prometo, mi Flor || Sus palabras me conmovieron, pero el dolor por la pérdida de Chance seguía pesando en mi pecho || Por favor no te enojes conmigo ||

Me sentí triste, pero comprendí que no tenía sentido enojarme. A pesar de todo, había superado peores situaciones.

|| Está bien, Max, tranquilo. Solo espero que aparezca pronto. Debe estar muy asustado. || dije, tratando de mantener la calma.

|| Lo sé, pero es bueno estar en casa de nuevo. Él volverá a nosotros, ya verás || añadió Max, con un atisbo de esperanza en su voz. Mi mirada bajó, reflexionando sobre cómo había dejado pasar tanto tiempo. Quizás fue mi culpa que se perdiera. De repente, sentí una mano cálida tomando la mía.

|| Tranquila, amor. También me aseguré de que lo buscaran por todos lados || me dijo Liam con ternura. En ese momento, el grupo guardó silencio. Miré a Liam con una sonrisa agradecida. De reojo, noté el leve cambio en la expresión de Drake, que reveló incomodidad y celos, aunque trató de ocultarlo. Se aclaró la garganta para romper el momento tenso.

|| Este... Liam, ¿dijiste que había algún problema de seguridad con el último tramo de nuestro vuelo? || Pregunto y Liam, con una mirada protectora hacia mí, asintió levemente, pero su mano aún mantenía un agarre cálido sobre la mía.

|| Hubo un pequeño desvío, pero no es nada de qué preocuparse. Cuando la guardia real tiene inquietudes, es mejor escucharlas. Prometo que pronto estaremos en Cordonia || dijo Liam con una sonrisa entusiasta mientras comenzábamos a disfrutar del desayuno. La atmósfera estaba cargada de alegría, y mientras conversábamos y comíamos, Liam se levantó lentamente. Sus ojos brillaban con emoción y nerviosismo mientras me miraba y lanzaba miradas furtivas a nuestros amigos, buscando el momento adecuado para revelar nuestra noticia. || ¿Lista? || me susurró con una sonrisa radiante.

|| ¡Sí, lista! || Le respondí, con el corazón latiendo con fuerza de anticipación. Liam sonrió y aclaró su garganta, un gesto que indicaba que estaba a punto de hacer anunciar las noticias.

|| Amigos, por favor, presten atención un momento || dijo Liam, capturando la atención de todos en la sala. || Antes de que lleguemos a Cordonia, Riley y yo tenemos una noticia que queremos compartir con ustedes ||

|| ¿Qué será? || preguntó Drake, con una mezcla de curiosidad y ligera incomodidad.

|| Como todos saben, mi compromiso anterior fue cancelado || anunció Liam, dirigiendo una mirada seria a Drake, quien se sorprendió. Luego, su expresión se transformó en una sonrisa radiante. || Anoche le pedí a Riley que se casara conmigo, y para mi alegría, aceptó. ¡Estamos comprometidos! || Liam mostró el anillo en mi dedo, y nuestros ojos se encontraron llenos de amor. La sala estalló en aplausos, pero noté la incomodidad en la expresión de Drake, quien dejó su comida y mostró una mezcla de incertidumbre y celos. Liam, captando la tensión, me rodeó con su brazo en un gesto protector, marcando claramente que este compromiso era solo nuestro. || Riley y yo estamos emocionados por este nuevo capítulo || dijo Liam con determinación. || Queríamos compartirlo con ustedes porque son muy importantes para nosotros. ||

|| ¡Riley, esto es maravilloso! || exclamó Hana, levantándose de su asiento para abrazarme con entusiasmo. Su alegría era contagiosa, y me envolvió en un cálido abrazo que me hizo sonreír de oreja a oreja.

|| No puedo creerlo, aunque sospechaba algo… ¡Pero necesito saberlo todo! ¿Dónde estaban? ¿Qué dijo Liam? ¿Qué dijiste tú? || preguntó Maxwell, lleno de emoción, mientras tomaba mi mano para admirar el anillo con una sonrisa radiante.

|| Las felicitaciones vienen primero; las preguntas pueden esperar hasta más tarde || intervino Drake, con un tono que trataba de sonar natural mientras evaluaba sus palabras. || Estoy… feliz por ustedes. Felicitaciones. ||

|| Gracias, amigo || respondió Liam, dándole una palmada en la espalda. Aunque Drake le devolvió una sonrisa levemente forzada, sus ojos mostraban un destello de dolor que intentaba esconder. Luego, se volvió hacia mí con una mirada que no podía disimular completamente su desilusión.

|| Gracias || dije con sinceridad, dirigiéndome a todo el grupo. Noté que Drake evitaba mirarme directamente; sabía que la noticia le había afectado más de lo que había anticipado.

|| Muy bien, estoy seguro de que todos tienen preguntas... || comenzó Liam, pero fue interrumpido de inmediato por Maxwell, que no podía contener su entusiasmo.

|| ¡No tienes idea! || exclamó Maxwell, casi saltando de su asiento. || Dime, ¿dónde fue la propuesta? ¿Qué fue lo que... ||

Justo en ese momento, el piloto anunció que íbamos a comenzar el descenso, y todos debían regresar a sus asientos. La emoción de Maxwell se desvaneció momentáneamente, pero su ansiedad por conocer los detalles de la propuesta era palpable.

|| Qué pena, pero parece que tendremos que posponer las preguntas para después... || dijo Liam, envolviéndome en un cálido abrazo. || Hemos llegado a nuestro hogar. ||

La calidez y amor en su voz eran evidentes. Finalmente, estábamos de vuelta en nuestra amada Cordonia. La sensación de estar en casa, con Liam a mi lado, llenaba el aire mientras el jet descendía suavemente.

If anyone else wants to be tagged, just let me know. I hope you enjoy this wonderful love adventure.

@tessa-liam, @kingliam2019, @choicesficwriterscreations, @delmissesryanandcassi, @OneNoeOne, @scentedeclipseghosteggs, @s0m3thingkmp

#choices trr #choices the royal romance #choices #liam x mc #liam x riley #trr fanfic #trr liam #trr fanfiction #novela romantica #liam rys #CFWC creator of the month

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cordonianroyalairlines · 11 months ago

Text

Staking a Claim

Series: Cordonian Royal Airlines

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings for series: Various

Pairing for this chapter: Riley x Drake

Word Count: 2,340

Rating: MA

Warnings for this chapter: Language mostly

A/N: This is for the @choicesholidays Valentine's Day prompts: "Be my fake date for a wedding."

The hair color is wrong for my Riley, but this image was perfect!

The copilot twisted around in his seat one too many times, craning his neck as if searching the cabin for something, jostling the pilot in the process.

Liam grunted in consternation. “Drake!”

Drake spun back around, “What?”

“What is your malfunction?”

“What do you mean?” Drake blinked at him in confusion.

“What do you mean what do I mean?” Liam grunted, “We haven’t made it through the preflight checklist because you keep turning around to stare into the cabin! What the hell is so interesting out there?”

“Nothing!” Drake rolled his shoulders, stared blankly out the cockpit window for a moment then turned back to Liam, “Can you see the guy in 12B?”

“What?” Liam’s head swiveled around and then back. “No. Why?”

Drake’s bottom lip protruded as he shook his head. “No reason.”

Liam watched him skeptically. Drake had been visibly agitated since he’d reported for duty. “There has to be a reason.”

“I…he just….he looks a little squirrely. You know what I mean? Untrustworthy.”

Liam’s eyes widened in alarm. “Is he a threat? Do we need to alert security? Did you see a weapon?” He whipped his head around quickly to try and get a good view of the man in 12B. “I can’t see anything. Riley’s blocking my view.”

“Is she talking to him?” Drake’s entire body moved just as Liam turned back around. Their heads collided with a resounding thwack.

“Ow! Fuck!” Liam grabbed his forehead.

“Sorry, sorry!”

“Seriously man, tell me what’s going on right now. I’m calling security!” Liam reached for the microphone but just as he got it to his mouth, Drake slapped it out of his hands.

“No!”

Liam watched in astonishment as the microphone flew out of his grip and hit the window then bounced off the dash. “Are you on drugs right now? Do I need to get another copilot?”

Drake gaped at him. “Seriously? When have I ever done drugs?”

“I don’t know man, but you’re acting really fucking weird.”

Hana ducked her head in to ask, “Are we almost ready? A couple of the passengers are getting antsy.”

“Which ones?” Drake asked.

Hana’s brows pulled together for a moment then smoothed out as she chuckled. “Oh. You know Riley’s ex is out there, don’t you?”

“What?” Drake’s eyes shot to Liam then back to Hana as he denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

A relieved breath whooshed out of Liam. At least he now knew Drake wasn’t on drugs and there wasn’t a terrorist on board. He stifled a laugh. “Sure you don’t.”

“I don’t!” Drake glared at them both.

Hana giggled as she backed out of the cockpit.

They finished the checklist and got airborne, but Drake’s agitation quickly returned. “Do you think he’s better looking than me?”

“Who?”

“The guy! In 12B.”

“How would I know?”

“You’re bisexual, right? You can judge that kind of thing.”

Liam scoffed. “First of all, I haven’t laid eyes on the guy. Second of all, I thought you didn’t care.”

“No, I don’t! I mean….just objectively speaking, out of curiosity….I overheard Hana call him eye candy. He can’t be that good-looking, can he?”

“I dunno Drake, Riley is a ten, so I imagine her ex is no slouch in the looks department either.”

“Great.” Drake huffed as he spun around in his seat again.

“Oh, for the love of God, just go look!”

“I can’t do that!”

“Why not?”

“Because then she’ll know I care!”

Liam cocked an eyebrow at him, “So you do care?”

“I mean she’ll think I care!”

“You’re really an idiot sometimes, you know that?”

“I don’t follow.”

“Of course you don’t.” Liam shook his head. “The only person you’re fooling is yourself. Put the rest of us out of our misery and just tell the girl that you like her already!”

“I’m not going out there.”

“Okay.”

Drake tapped his fingers on his knees for several seconds before jumping out of his seat. “I need to use the bathroom.”

“Sure you do.”

“I had a lot of coffee before we boarded.”

“Sure you did.”

“Fuck you. I’m going to take a piss.”

“Great. Tell Riley I said hi.”

Drake ignored him as he exited the cockpit and headed for the back of the plane where the restrooms were located. He slid his eyes sideways as he passed aisle 12 and scoffed to himself. The guy wasn’t that good-looking.

He was clean-shaven with a strong jawline, and raven hair swept back and gelled to perfection. Was that an Armani suit? How were his eyes that blue?

He slammed into the lavatory and locked the door to glare at himself in the highly polished silver surface of the mirror as he regarded his deep copper-colored eyes and messy, fly-away hair that barely saw a brush, much less hair gel. He ran a hand across the stubble dotting his jaw. It was a strong jawline, wasn’t it? Should he shave?

The guy in seat 12B looked like a CEO or something. Did she like that type? Drake was far more likely to be found in a tent than a boardroom. Did he even own a suit? He owned uniforms. Didn’t women like men in uniforms?

He made pretty good money as a first officer for Cordonian Royal Airlines.

Not CEO money.

“Fuck!” He spun and lashed out at the toilet. His foot connected to the stainless steel sending a sharp jolt of pain shooting up his leg.

There was a knock at the door. “Everything okay in there?”

Shit! It was Riley! “I’m fine. Dropped my…. Wallet…” Fuck, Walker! What the shit is wrong with you, man? Your wallet really?

“Are you sure because that didn’t sound like—”

“I said I’m fine!”

“Okay. Just let me know if—oh, excuse me what?”

From the other side of the door, a man’s voice murmured something he couldn’t make out then both people moved away.

Was that the ex talking to her? He forced himself to count to twenty so he didn’t just barrel out of the bathroom after them. He took several deep calming breaths like Max had tried to show him last time he had been upset about something. At least he thought it was what Max had done. At the time, he had mostly ignored him.

With an air of calm he most certainly did not feel, he exited the lavatory. His eyes went straight to seat 12B. Empty. He backtracked and ducked into the crew area.

Sure enough, there was Riley standing in the middle of the empty inflight catering kitchen talking to Mr. CEO.

All his jealousy evaporated in an instant as he took in her demeanor. Her arms were folded defensively across her chest and her face was furrowed into a frown. She was shaking her head as she leaned forward, her voice lowered but her entire body radiating her discomfort with the conversation.

The guy reached out and grabbed her arm.

She flinched away.

Oh hell no.

Drake didn’t remember moving but he was suddenly next to them, his hand wrapped firmly around the man's wrist. He flung the other man’s arm away from Riley and through gritted teeth asked, “Is there a problem here?”

The man gave him a startled look then annoyance flashed across his face. “We were just having a discussion.”

“Doesn’t look like the lady’s enjoying the conversation.”

“Mind your own business,” he shook his head dismissively and reached for her again, “Riley, if we could just talk privately—”

Drake intercepted the motion before he could touch her. “If you’re attached to that hand and wish to keep it, then I would strongly advise you against touching her again.”

He jerked his hand out of Drake’s grasp and rubbed his wrist. “Was that really necessary?”

Drake never took his eyes off the man as he leaned his body toward Riley, “Do you want to talk to this guy?”

“No.”

“But, Riley—”

“We have nothing to talk about, Nick!”

Drake angled his body so that he was blocking Riley from Nick’s view. He crossed his arms over his chest. “You heard her.”

Nick looked like he wanted to press the issue, but after taking in Drake’s stormy expression, thought better of it. He straightened his suit jacket with a sharp tug. “Fine. I’ll see you at the wedding. We’ll talk then.”

“You’re not coming to my sister’s wedding!”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you? I’ll be there as Clarissa’s plus one.”

Riley shook her head back and forth. “Seriously? When we were dating, you couldn’t stand her!”

A gloating smile crept across his face. “Jealous?”

“Why would I be jealous?”

“Because you’re not over me, Riley. If you were, you’d have bothered to line up a date for the wedding.”

“I—”

“She has a date for the wedding.” Drake cut in as he casually slung his arm around her shoulders.

Nick turned his gaze to Drake for a long, evaluating moment. “Are you the new boyfriend then?”

“Yep. And I’m only going to ask you once to return to your seat. If you don’t stop harassing the flight crew, I will land this plane and have security escort you off of it.”

Nick’s eyes widened slightly as he huffed out, “You wouldn’t dare!”

Riley ran her hand down Drake’s arm as she smirked at Nick, “He would. He’s very protective when it comes to me. I wouldn’t test him if I were you.”

“Whatever,” Nick bumped Drake’s shoulder as he shoved past them and exited the kitchen.

Drake’s arm was still around Riley as he turned his head to watch Nick leave. “Let me know if he bothers you again and I’ll—”

Riley spun on him in fury, her fists raining blows on his chest. “What the fuck did you just do, Drake?”

His hand flew to his chest. “Ow! What the hell, Riley? I just rescued you from that guy!”

“I didn’t need rescuing, Drake. I can handle Nick. He’s an asshole, but he’s not a serial killer or something!”

Drake scoffed with a shake of his head, “I think the phrase you’re looking for is thank you.”

“Oh yeah? Really?”

“Yeah, really!”

“Do you know what you just did? Do you?”

“Um…got the asshole ex-boyfriend to leave you alone?”

“No, you fucking jackass.” She slapped his arm. “You just told him that you’re my boyfriend and my date to my sister’s wedding!”

“So?”

“So?” She threw her arms up in the air. “So when I show up at the wedding with no date and no boyfriend he’ll know that was a lie and I’ll be humiliated!”

“Oh.”

“Yeah…oh!”

They stood in silence for a long moment, Drake rubbing his chest and Riley fuming. Then Drake quietly said, “I’ll go to the wedding with you.”

“What?”

“I mean….if you want me to.”

“I…”

“I did get you into this situation. Let me make it up to you by getting you out of it. One fake boyfriend slash date for sister’s wedding coming right up!”

All the fight went out of her as she took in the hopeful smile on his face. “I can’t ask you to do that, Drake.”

“Why not?”

“Because the wedding is on Valentine’s Day and I’m sure you already have plans. I can’t ask you to cancel—”

“Pfffftttt.” He waved a hand dismissively in the air. “I do not have plans for Valentine’s Day!”

“You don’t?”

Did she sound hopeful?

“No, I do not. No girlfriend, no friend with benefits, no romantic entanglements at all.”

Except with you.

A delighted smile broke out across her face. “Okay, then.”

“So, we’re good?”

She gave him a flirtatious smile as she flipped her hair and turned to leave. “We’re good.”

“Okay, good.”

He watched her walk away with a contented smile on his lips then followed her out of the kitchen and back to the front of the plane. He glowered at Nick as he passed aisle 12.

Nick returned the glare as he adjusted his headphones and slid down in the seat.

When he stepped onto the flight deck Liam greeted him with smug satisfaction. “That was the longest piss in the world.”

“Shut up.” He slid into the copilot seat without looking at his best friend.

“So how’d it go? Did you get a good look at her ex?”

“Um….yeah… he’s a pushy bastard. I had to tell him to keep his hands to himself and….”

“And?”

Drake released a long-suffering sigh knowing Liam was going to find out sooner or later. Riley would tell Max and Max would tell everyone else. “I’m going as her date to her sister’s wedding.”

“Wow! That’s quite a jump from ‘I don’t like her like that’.” Liam chortled gleefully.

Drake kept quiet but his foot started tapping nervously.

“Oh, shit, there’s more! What is it?” Liam prodded.

“Ah…”

“Don’t make me call Max and find out.”

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath.

“Come on, what else?”

“It’s on Valentine’s Day,” he answered with a resigned sigh.

Liam practically danced out of his seat. “This is amazing! This is epic! Mr. I will never take a woman out on Valentine’s Day because that’s far too much pressure and it’s all about commercialization anyway is taking a woman out on Valentine’s Day. To her sister’s wedding!”

“Why does this make you so happy?”

“Because I get to say I told you so forever!”

“It’s not even a real date.”

“Sure it’s not.”

“It’s not!”

“Does she know that?”

“Yes! I just said I was her boyfriend so that Nick guy would stop—”

“Wait! Wait! You played the pretend boyfriend card to back off her ex?”

“Yeah…so?”

Liam threw his head back and belly laughed. “You are such a goner!”

Drake pressed his lips into a tight line and returned his attention to the control panel. He wanted to argue, he really did. But he couldn’t.

He was absolutely a goner.

And he was going to have to buy a suit.

Shit.

#cordonianroyalairlines #trr au #the royal romance #drake walker #drake x mc #cfwc fics of the week #choices fic writers creations #choicesholidays #liam rys

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lorirwritesfanfic · 2 months ago

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Character profile:

Jade Bourbon

Liam Rys ✨new✨

Series

To Know You

To (Secretly) Love You

For The World To Know

Happily Ever After?

#choices fanfic #the royal romance #the royal heir #liam rys #liam x mc #lorirwritesfanfic #lorircreates

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angelasscribbles · 5 months ago

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Savage Love Chapter 38: Here Comes the Bride?

Series: Savage Love

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Riley x Liam, Riley x Drake

Rating: R

Warnings: Mature themes

Word Count: 2,169

My other stuff: Master List.

The moment we were back on Cordonian soil, and I was free of Madeleine, I texted Liam, asking for an immediate meeting.

He responded instantly. Come to my quarters. Leo is here now.

I made my way to Liam’s private suite. He was alone with his brother. He swept me into his arms, pressing me close to his body as he whispered, “I was worried about you. I’m so glad you’re back.”

I melted into his embrace for a moment before remembering that I was there to give my official report about what I’d learned in Hidar. Noting that no one else was present, I asked, “Should we wait until the entire team is assembled?”

Liam shook his head. “We can brief them later on the parts they need to know. Tell us what happened in Hidar. Was Lena there?”

“No. She wasn’t. Was she in Rivala?”

Leo looked at Liam, who nodded, then turned to me and said, “She wasn’t home, but her mother was. Her mother turns out to be my mother. My biological one, I mean.”

“Oh wow! Oh, Leo.” I crossed the room and sat on the couch next to him so that I could throw my arms around him. “That must have been so hard for you! Are you okay?”

He returned the hug quickly, then released me as he answered. “Yeah…I mean, no, not really, but yes. Liv was with me. I’ll be fine. It’s a lot to process, but the short version is that when Eleanor was alive, she let my mom see me secretly. The plan was for her to take me and Liam with her when she went back to Auvernall for Lena. Obviously, that never happened and Helena ended up adopting an alias and raising the baby herself.”

“That is a lot!” I sympathized.

“That’s not the biggest bombshell,” Liam interjected. “Turns out Constantine wasn’t the baby’s father and that’s why she ran away.”

Oh, boy. The hits just kept coming. I stood and turned to Liam, my eyes tracking across his face, looking for signs of distress. “And how are you handling that news?”

“I’m not judging her if that’s what you mean, and I don’t blame her either. Our father isn’t an easy man to love and I’m sure he wasn’t a great husband. The bigger twist is who she was having an affair with.”

My head swiveled between the two men. “Who was it?”

Leo answered. “Jackson Walker.”

“Drake’s father?”

“Yes.”

My heart dropped. “Does he know?”

Liam gave me an understanding smile as he reached out and took my hand in his. “You’re worried about him.”

“Yes, Liam. I’m worried about all of you! This is a huge shock for everyone, I’m sure, and it’s not even the biggest issue in your life at the moment.”

The biggest issue was the threat to life and limb that the Via Imperii posed. Not to mention Liam having to get up to speed on becoming king since he’d had the crown unexpectedly thrust upon him just days before.

I filled them in on everything that had happened in Hidar.

“Wow.” Leo grasped a handful of his own hair as he took in the information. “First, we find out we have a sister, then I find out she’s not my sister, and now we have a brother.”

“One that’s been weaponized against us,” Liam added.

“We can try to extract him when take them down. Give orders that he isn’t to be killed,” I offered. “Maybe he can be deprogrammed.”

“Maybe,” He replied doubtfully.

“It’s worth a try,” Leo argued. “We don’t know what he’s been told or how he feels about any of it.”

“Great.” I nodded, “I’ll make sure the team that breeches has his photograph and understands he’s to be taken alive.”

Leo raised an eyebrow. “Are we ready to breech?”

“Hopefully soon.” Getting their brother safely out of Via Imperii control added yet another layer to my resolve to take down the entire thing, not just the local branch.

“Did you learn anything else that we need to know?” Liam asked.

I shook my head.

“Well, I have news. While you were gone, I received the same invitation to join the Via Imperii that Leo received.”

“I don’t suppose you’d be open to playing along by accepting the invitation and pretending to—”

“Absolutely not.”

I suppressed a sigh of frustration. “You are expected to pick a bride at the end of the week!”

My time was running out.

“That seems unreasonable given that I just took over the role of crown prince less than a week ago.”

“About that.” Leo interrupted. “I’ve met with father and we agreed to a course of action. I’ll be officially announcing my pick and my abdication at the same time. So technically, the goal of me finding a wife will be satisfied, so hopefully the suitors won’t feel they have wasted their time.”

“Oh, that’s brilliant!” I nodded my approval. “Announce your choice first, so that the suitors and their families don’t feel tricked, and then announce that you’re stepping down so that the Via Imperii don’t see your choice as a threat.”

“That’s great!” Liam’s face brightened. “Then I can just wait until next year to pick a wife!”

“Yeah…. sorry, but I pitched that idea to dear old Dad, and he insisted that you choose someone now.”

“But—”

Sympathy passed across Leo’s face. “I get it. But I also agree that it needs to happen now.”

“Why?”

“Because you have to be engaged to ascend the throne and let’s face it…. Our father is getting worse by the day. He needs to retire. This morning he was sharp as a tack, but by lunchtime he thought I was Uncle Fabian.”

Liam uttered a string of swear words that I would have sworn he didn’t know.

“I know. And I’m sorry. If I hadn’t dropped this in your lap—”

“What? No!” Liam shook his head adamantly. “Your hand was forced, Leo. It’s fine. I don’t mind picking up the crown. It’s just the marriage part…” he trailed off as his eyes found mine.

The desperation in his eyes killed me a little. He had to marry, there was no choice about that. The only choice was who. He didn’t want to marry someone he wasn’t in love with.

He was in love with me.

That thought sent warmth cascading through me. It wasn’t the time to think about that, though. “What about just pretending to pick Madeleine? You can always break the engagement after we take down the—”

“That won’t work.” Liam shook his head. “A marriage contract must be signed at the conclusion of the selection ceremony. I would need cause to break it.”

“Proof that she’s a member of an organization trying to take over the government ought to do it, right?”

“The wedding is two weeks after the engagement,” Leo broke in. “If you don’t take them down quickly enough, then she will be queen, with access to classified information and places inside the palace. We can’t risk it.”

Liam stepped closer to me and took my hand in his as his eyes searched my face. “Does the idea of me marrying someone else do nothing to you, Riley?”

“I….” I had no easy answer for him, or for myself. I had no issue with him getting fake engaged to Madeleine for the purpose of taking down the bad guys. Hell, I’d accepted a proposal or two in the course of my career. But the idea of him actually marrying someone…. anyone…. bothered me far more than I was willing to admit.

My personal feelings aside, choosing any of the other suitors was going to get him killed. I stared into his eyes as all the available options fell through my mind. The thought of him being hurt…. Or worse... sent all my professionalism flying out the window.

“Of course I don’t want to see you marry someone else,” I said softly before snapping back into work mode and stepping away from him. “And there’s the added wrinkle that if you choose anyone that the Via Imperii doesn’t approve of, her life will be in danger. Not to mention yours.”

“I’m open to ideas.” His voice was suspiciously devoid of emotion.

There was only one answer, and we both knew it.

“Choose me.”

A storm of emotions chased each other across his face. “I want to, Riley but I can’t ask you to—”

“You’re not asking. It was my idea.”

“Yes. However, I know that you don’t actually want to get married.”

Leo stood from the couch. “I should go. Let you two sort this out.” He stopped on his way to the door to lean in and whisper to me, “Don’t let your intractable stubbornness get in the way of your happiness, double oh seven. Tell him how you feel.”

Once we were alone, we turned to each other, the air around us laden with emotion. “I can’t choose you, Riley.”

“Yes, Liam, you can!”

A sad smile flittered across his face. “I’ve made no secret of my feelings nor my intentions. I would marry you tomorrow if that’s what you wanted.”

“It is what I want.”

He shook his head. “As I said, you would be expected to sign an iron clad marriage contract upon acceptance of the engagement. One you would not be able to break later. Agreeing to marry to take down the Via Imperii will not constitute adequate cause to terminate the contract, as you will have entered into it knowingly and willingly, no matter your motives.”

I stepped closer to him as my heart began to thud in my chest. My eyes locked on his, drinking in all the longing and desperation that I found there. “I understand that.”

Hope flashed through his eyes. “You’d have to actually marry me.”

“I know.”

He stepped into my personal space, his eyes searching mine. “You’re prepared to spend the rest of your life with me?”

I shrugged, trying for a nonchalance that I did not feel. “Unless we can take them down in the next six days.”

“Is there any chance of that happening?”

“To be honest, we could take down the Cordonian branch right now.”

“But?”

I traced my fingers down his face and across his lips, my eyes taking in his hopeful expression.

His hand reached out to grasp mine. Bringing my fingers to his lips, he kissed each one individually.

My voice was thick as I whispered, “They’ll just come back. New people will take their place and you’ll never be safe.” I cleared my throat and forced a smidge of professionalism into my voice. “We have to cut off the head.”

It was the only way to keep him safe long term. It might take the Via Imperii months to years to regroup and set up a new branch in Cordonia, but regroup they would and Liam would be their first target.

His eyes lit up with delight. “You’re worried about me.”

“Of course I am.” Pulling my hand out of his grasp, I scoffed. “I’d be an idiot not to recognize the danger. Not only will they want to realize their original ends, but they’ll be out for vengeance on the monarch that helped take them down.”

“Do you always worry about the long term repercussions of your missions? Or do you usually just complete the assignment and get out?”

I stared at him in consternation. I didn’t want to answer that because the truth was that I never worried about what happened after I left. I took down my target. Cleaning up the aftermath was someone else’s job. Leo’s words echoed through my head, and I suppressed the smile that fought to bloom across my face. With a shake of my head, I lost the fight. “You’re incorrigible, you know that? I see what you’re doing.”

“What?” He grinned as he reached for me and pulled me back into his embrace. “Tell me you’re not acting illogically because you love me.”

“Shut up,” I breathed as my head fell back, giving him access to my neck and anything else he wanted.

He was right, but I wasn’t ready to say it out loud. I couldn’t.

Maybe it was a toxic trait. Maybe it was a self protection mechanism. Maybe I was just bad at relationships. Or maybe it was my equally strong feelings for his best friend that kept those three little words off the tip of my tongue.

Spoken out loud or not, my feelings…. And yes, it was time to admit that I had them…. My feelings for him were driving my decisions, not my professional ambition or my years of experience as a field agent. Leaving him vulnerable to assassination was simply not an option for me.

I would do whatever I had to do to ensure his safety, and I didn’t care about the cost.

#savage love #agent riley brooks #captain drake walker #prince liam rys #trr fanfic #trr au #angelasscribbles #trr poly #the royal romance #the royal romance fanfic #trr #choices #liam rys #drake walker #choices fanfiction #playchoices fanfic #choices stories you play #drake walker x mc #liam rys x mc

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fadingreveries · 6 months ago

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The Royal Romance, Bk1 Ch2: Welcome to Cordonia (Pt. 3)

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Story Summary: In this novel-style retelling of TRR, beloved scenes with original commentary from the Choices stories including your favourite group of royals and friends will be expanded upon. Contains extended commentary and scenes from the original story, in-depth descriptions of bonus scenes, and premium choices and outfits.

Chapter Synopsis: Riley travels to Cordonia, but what will await her there?

Word Count: 2.2k

Disclaimer: All rights to original commentary, scenes, and characters from The Royal Romance series reserved to Choices and Pixelberry Studios. No copyright infringement intended.

~ ~ ~

Pulling along her suitcase, Riley followed Maxwell to the front doors of the palace. Maxwell nodded in acknowledgement to the officers of the King’s Guard dressed in their black uniforms as they opened the doors for them.

The coffered ceilings of the castle were much higher than she imagined they could be with beams laid in a grid which created a pattern of recessed squares. There were rooms leading to sitting areas that had furniture and objects fancier than she had ever seen with plush velvet couches, dainty bouquets in vases, intricate gold and glass centrepieces, and sparkling crystal chandeliers.

“I thought the outside was amazing on its own, but being inside…” Riley wondered aloud, her head swivelling around as she lost her trail of thought.

It was only until she entered the palace where she realized how different her world was from Liam’s. He had grown up here, learned to follow his father’s footsteps as a prince, met all kinds of nobles, and possibly brought fancy socialites home after dates. This was his childhood home; his whole world seemed to embody glamour and prestige.

She, on the other hand, had grown up in a cramped but cozy apartment with her mother and father. It wasn’t much, but the love her parents had for her and each other was more than what most people were lucky to have. With her American upbringing, her Korean mother’s roots, and her father’s Filipino culture, she was grateful for the homes she would forever have in the U.S., the Philippines, and South Korea.

They showered her with love and reassurance, frequently reminding her that family was the most important thing to cherish that motivates and grounds you at the same time. She never felt like she had lacked anything in her life, not when she had the most loving, supportive parents anyone could have.

At least that’s what it felt like before she lost the two people she loved the most in her life. But that was a story for another time, one for where there was less pressure and anticipation facing some of the most important people in Codonia.

A small piece of doubt began to spring up once again in her mind. Based on her appearance alone, it was clear that she was not from Cordonia, much less part of the country’s nobility or highly-respected citizens. She didn’t want to let Maxwell and his brother down from her upcoming representation of their house.

But in a split second, as she’d done everyday since they were no longer in her life, she heard her parents’ words in her mind saying, One day at a time.

“It’s like a whole other world, huh? Don’t worry, you have tons of time to roam and explore and get used to it,” Maxwell reassured her, as he followed her gaze landing on all lighting and fixtures. “After all, you’ll be here for the next few months of the social season.”

They made their way to the grand staircase with gold handrails decorated with artistic panel inserts of flowing swirls. A large velvet red carpet regally covered the steps leading up to the top platform where it separated into two staircases that led to the left and left wings of the castle.

“So, what’s the deal with Drake? Why is he… so jaded?” Riley questioned, fixating on the elegant staircase she had only ever really seen replicas of in movies. Seeing all the luxury decorations and furniture reminded her of Drake's annoyance with her fascination with all the new sights she was seeing. “Is he always like that?”

“I can get that for you,” Maxwell offered, implying Riley’s suitcase as she willingly handed it to him. He lifted it up as they climbed the staircase together, before answering her question, “Oh, don’t mind him. Drake’s never really… fit in. He doesn’t like court as much as others love being part of it.”

“Not used to courtly life?” Riley suggested, glancing at Maxwell for confirmation.

“Definitely not. Technically, he’s a commoner. He grew up here at court with us, but he’s… always been an outsider here in a way. Even if he is Liam’s best friend,” Maxwell responded, even though it was something he wondered himself as well.

With a nod, Riley pondered his answer. It made sense why he seemed to stick out like a sore thumb compared to Liam and the others, although it didn’t seem plausible that someone would choose to stay in a place where they would only be somewhat excluded.

She questioned, “But if he’s not fond of spending time with royals and nobles, is there a reason why he tries to tolerate it so much? Besides being there for Liam, I’m guessing.”

“Beats me,” Maxwell responded, shrugging his shoulders. “Sometimes it’s hard to know what he’s thinking. He’s pretty much known for being mysterious and antisocial to almost everyone, so I wouldn’t take it personally.”

At the top of the stairs, Maxwell and Riley turned down one of the many elegant corridors of the castle. The ivory marble floors were decorated with intricate designs of mosaic art and sophisticated medallions. A gleaming chandelier glistened from the sunlight peering into the hall through the arched glass windows. The gold accents on the walls brought out the pastel blue that brightened up the space.

“Your room’s here in the west wing. In case you need anything from me or my brother, our rooms are just a couple rooms away,” Maxwell informed her, as the two of them walked past several large wooden arched doors.

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. For some reason, Maxwell struck her more as an only child with his keenness for adventure and love for the spotlight. She wondered if his brother was as easy-going and laid-back as he was. Riley curiously commented, “I didn’t know you had a brother.”

“Yeah, an older brother. His official title is Duke Bertrand Beaumont. As the eldest son, he’s the heir and I’m the spare. You’ll see him tonight. He’ll be excited to meet you,” Maxwell answered with a smile, although his last sentence had a hint of uncertainty that Riley hadn’t noticed. He already had a slight idea on how his brother would react, and well... let’s just say they would have to brace themselves.

Maxwell stopped short in front of a magnificently ornate door with the dark wood accentuating the designs. As Riley stood beside him, he turned the doorknob. Oh, boy. If this didn’t get her even more excited than he was about solving House Beaumont’s problem of not having a suitor, he would run down the corridor and do three cartwheels in a row.

“This is it… Here’s your room!” Maxwell revealed, with a giddy edge to his voice.

Riley entered a lavish guest room with a gold and dark magenta palette accompanying full-length paintings and gilded ceilings. Two end tables with beige and gold accents to the solid wood foundation were placed on both sides of the queen bed with understated white lamps on top of them. A shiny gold candle chandelier hung daintily above Maxwell and Riley, where they stood underneath it beside the bed with silky cream sheets and dark fuchsia pillows matching the ottoman nearby.

“Wow…” was all Riley could muster, as her neck craned high and low to take in the simple, regal style of the bedroom.

It was official; she had fallen asleep and dreamt of being in an alternate universe where she was treated as if she were royalty. Even if it was only temporary, she could only imagine what her younger self would do if she knew how lucky she was to be where she was now.

“As a royal guest, you’re spared no luxury,” Maxwell said, matter-of-factly as he observed her walking out the balcony where the cool, fresh air blew in peacefully.

Looking over her shoulder back at him with a hint of mischief to her smile which he recognized as resembling one of his own, Riley asked, “So nothing’s stopping me from jumping on the bed?”

“There’s not much anyone can take away from you by doing that. Maybe only your dignity.” Maxwell guffawed, watching as her shoulders rose up in anticipation.

As her smile turned up even more in delight, Riley clasped her hands together and simply said, “Perfect.”

With a running start, Riley rushed over from the balcony and leaped on to the bed with a soft plop. As she sunk into the mattress and felt the smooth silk sheets over her, she sighed happily. When was the last time she had ever been able to let out a true peaceful sigh in a very rare calm moment? Due to school and work, it seemed she hadn’t been able to rest easy in years.

“Ah… this is so much better than memory foam,” Riley complimented, snuggling with a fluffy pillow and allowing herself to close her eyes to cherish the peace and quiet. “I feel like I could sleep here forever.”

“Just one of the perks you have as one of the Crown Prince’s suitors,” Maxwell remarked, laughing in goodhearted nature. He walked away from the bed towards the door. “I’ll let you settle in before your big debut tonight.”

Immediately, Riley’s eyes opened in shock at his words. What did he mean? She sat up in surprise, calling after him, “My what?”Maxwell stopped at the door, before turning back to Riley with a nervous smile. Whoops. He knew he was forgetting something, but he couldn’t figure out what.

“I’m sorry, I keep forgetting that you’re not used to all this. Things are always complicated around here when it comes to special events like this, but we’ll take it one step at a time,” Maxwell reassured her. Riley’s shoulders relaxed a bit, so he continued to clarify, “The first event of the social season is tonight… The Masquerade.”

“Oh… it sounds important,” Riley commented, fiddling with her fingers. Her knowledge of fitting in with socialites and moguls was limited. She couldn’t help but think about how out of place she might look in front of the finest nobles of Cordonia. She thought she would have had a little bit more time to prepare. “I’ve never been to an event like that before. Are there scheduled activities I need to prepare for in advance?”

“Compared to the balls held to welcome nearby countries, not really. Sometimes, they go full-out with the masquerade theme where everyone takes off their masks at midnight. Then, networking goes on for hours,” Maxwell explained. “This ball, though, is where all the suitors will be presented to the Prince, as well as to the King. Most people at court already know each other really well, so it’s less uptight in a way. Just good music, dancing, and food.”

“Does that mean the guests have to be in specific costumes with masks prepared tonight?” Riley questioned, finding the idea of attending a masquerade for the first time interesting.

Shrugging his shoulders, Maxwell replied, “Not everyone dresses in costume, but some people plan months finding one to wear for it. You can be sure that the ladies competing for Liam’s attention will be pulling out all the stops.”

For a split second, Maxwell glanced doubtfully at Riley’s modestly-looking suitcase. When they were at her apartment back in New York, he watched as she hurriedly packed her most essential belongings. Among her things in her suitcase were keepsakes and books as well as her quintessential New York attire.

“I’m guessing it’s too much to ask if you’ve got a costume or fancy ballgown in there,” Maxwell joked, although he was seriously racking his brain trying to remember if she stuffed one or two in there as a backup.

With a sheepish smile, Riley lifted her suitcase on the bed. She unzipped the main compartment where she pulled out a flowy, floor-length dress as blue as the calm Cordonian sky. “I packed a dress.”

“Well, I wasn’t sure, so I’ve made an appointment for you at the palace boutique. Maybe you’ll find something you like better there!” Maxwell cheerfully informed her.

For once, he wasn’t scrambling to fix things; he was actually preparing in advance. Bertrand would be so proud of his initiative. Maxwell just knew it.

Tucking her dress back into her suitcase for the meantime, Riley replied, “I’ll check it out. There’s nothing wrong with another option or two.”

“Remember, tonight is very important. It’s your chance to make a first impression on all the influential people at court and to stand apart from everyone else. If you’re going to leave a lasting impact, you might as well stun them with some style,” Maxwell responded, with a hint of cool confidence in his last sentence.

Triple S’s and alliteration? Man, was he on a roll with smooth words. Maxwell could definitely shimmy his way into being a reality TV show host. Maybe The Bachelorette or The Bachelor could use a new host in the near future…

An eager grin made its way on her face, as Riley reassured him, “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

~ ~ ~

Click here for the TRR retelling series masterlist for more chapters! 🏰

Tag list: @kingliam2019 @princess-geek @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @tinkie1973 @tessa-liam

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sfb123 · 2 years ago

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Leaping to Conclusions

Pairing: Liam x Riley

All characters belong to Pixelberry

Summary: The pressure to produce an heir is getting to Liam and Riley, leading them to turn to some unconventional methods.

Rating: PG, Adult Language

Word Count: 1,395

A/N: This fic is insanity guys, I'm not even going to pretend it's anything but. I learned the most absurd fun fact this week, and after sharing it with pretty much everyone I know, @ao719 convinced me that it needed to be a fic, and here we are.

For the record, this story doesn't take place in any of my timelines. My Liam and Riley can be weird, but never this weird. 😂

I am participating in @choicesflashfics, the prompt: “Wait a second. Pause and rewind … what did you just say?” will appear in bold below.

And finally, nobody has pre-read this, so apologies in advance for my horrendous grammar, and anything else about it that sucks.

Riley’s eyes fluttered open as she felt Liam’s lips trailing slowly across her shoulder. She moaned softly and arched back into him.

“Good morning, love.” He whispered huskily into her ear.

“When it starts like this it is.” She replied, reveling in the attention she was receiving from her husband.

As his hand traveled up her body, her stomach started to lurch. Her hand flew to her mouth and she leapt out of his arms and rushed to the bathroom of their guest room in the Walker ranch. Liam sat up and watched with worry as the door slammed shut.

After a few moments, Liam stood and approached the door. He could hear his wife on the other end, and he knew exactly what was going on. He rapped gently on the door. “Riley, are you alright? Can I get you anything?”

The only response he received were a few more retching noises, followed by the toilet flushing. Soon after, the door opened, and Liam met Riley’s red, blotchy eyes. “Sorry.”

Liam wrapped his arms around her, pulling her flush against him. “You don’t have to apologize, it’s not your fault.” They stood there in silence as Liam held her. “Riley, do you think you may need to take a test?”

Since the royal couple had gotten married, they’d been facing pressure to produce an heir. While they did not take their positions as monarchs lightly, for them, it was more about building a family together.

“It wouldn’t hurt.” Riley shrugged before returning to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Liam took a seat at the end of the bed to wait for her.

“Oh no!” Liam stood and rushed back to the door at Riley’s cry. She came back into the bedroom, more distraught than she had been before. “I dropped the test in the toilet.” She buried her head in her hands.

Liam chuckled slightly, as he wrapped his arm around her. He had read that pregnancy hormones could cause overreactions; he assumed, hoped, that was why she was so upset. “It’s alright, just take another one.”

“Liam, it was the last one!” She snapped.

He stepped back, shocked by her aggression. “That’s alright, we can go into town and get more.”

“Are you kidding?!” Riley threw her hands up in frustration before moving to the bed and dropping down, burying her face in the pillow. “The press has been all over us, the last thing I need is for them to get a picture of me buying pregnancy tests!”

Liam sat beside her on the bed, rubbing her back gently as he racked his brain for a solution. “I’ve got it!”

Riley rolled over and sat up, leaning against the headboard. “What?”

“We’re in Texas, surely there is a frog around here somewhere.” He said as he moved to the dresser, pulling out a pair of jeans.

“Liam, this is no time to go wildlife gazing, I might be carrying the heir!” Riley chided him.

“Love calm down, the frog will be able to tell us.” He said matter of factly as he continued to get dressed.

Her face contorted into a confused expression. “Wait a second. Pause and rewind … what did you just say?”

He sat beside her on the bed and slid on his boots. “For about twenty years, starting in the nineteen forties, before the pregnancy tests we are familiar with today, there was the Hogben test. A British zoologist, Lancelot Hogben, discovered that when urine samples from pregnant women were injected into frogs, the frog would spawn eggs within eighteen hours. It was the most rapid and reliable pregnancy test of the time.”

Riley stared at her husband in stunned silence. “How the fuck do you even know that?”

“I like history.” He shrugged.

Still befuddled by her husband’s solution, Riley took a deep breath. “So you want to inject a frog with my pee, and then in 18 hours either nothing happens and I’m not pregnant, or I am pregnant and we also have a hundred and seventy two frog eggs?”

“They’re called frogspawn, love.” He corrected.

She slapped her palm against her forehead. “Yeah, because that’s the most crucial thing in this conversation.”

“I’m sorry, force of habit,” Liam smiled sheepishly. “Would you like to try it? It’s a fascinating concept, I would be interested to see it in action.”

“Liam, I don’t even want to touch a frog, let alone do science experiments on it.”

“I’ll take care of everything,” he insisted. “I’ll just need your… well, your um… sample.”

Riley chuckled when Liam started to get flustered. “Alright, if it’ll make you happy, and all I have to do is pee in a cup, then let’s give it a try.”

Liam grinned and leaned in, planting a quick kiss on Riley’s lips. “Excellent!”

“I guess Kermit was right, it’s not easy being green.” Riley said, shaking her head.

Liam made his way to a nearby pond in search of the perfect frog. His eyes roamed the banks in search of his test subject. “If I were a frog, where would I be?”

Finally, he noticed a slight movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see a frog seated on a nearby rock. “Perfect.” He stalked toward his prey, making sure to stay as quiet as possible.

Liam was so laser focused that he didn’t notice Drake coming up behind him, curiously observing the actions of his best friend. “Li, what the fuck are you doing?”

Drake’s words startled Liam and before he had time to catch himself, he tumbled over into the pond as the frog lept away. Drake cackled as the King of Cordonia sat waist deep in the pond glaring at him.

“Sorry,” Drake apologized as he reached down, helping Liam out of the water. “But seriously, what are you doing?”

“Riley might be pregnant,” he answered.

Drake furrowed his brow, even more confused now that he had the explanation. “Okay, so you decided to go frog hunting to celebrate?”

“No, we lost the test,” he responded. When Drake continued to stare at him with a blank expression, Liam sighed and explained the Hogben test just as he had done for Riley earlier.

“And Brooks agreed to go along with this?” Drake chuckled.

“We would do anything for eachother.”

Drake rolled his eyes and moved toward the pond. A few moments later he returned with a frog.

“How did you do that?” Liam marveled.

“You had your training growing up, I had mine.” He shrugged in reply.

Liam took the frog from Drake, thanking him for his efforts and began walking back to the house.

“I’ve gotta see this.” Drake said to himself as he followed Liam.

Liam entered the house heading toward the stairs, until he saw Riley sitting with Madeleine on the living room couch. When he stepped up to them, he noticed the crestfallen expression on his wife’s face.

“Love, what’s wrong?”

“I’m not pregnant,” she responded, her eyes trained on the floor.

“But how do you know? I’ve got the frog right here.” He held it up to show her.

Madeleine stood from the couch, glaring in confusion and disgust at the sight in front of her. “When I was in town this morning, I bought some tests. I figured you would need them.”

“Oh Riley,” Liam moved to Riley, outstretching his arms.

“Liam,” she held a hand up to stop him from getting any closer. “You’re slimy, and wet… and holding a frog.”

“Oh, right.” Liam looked down at himself, and the frog in his hands. “I should shower. Care to join me?” He asked slyly.

“Um… maybe you should handle this one solo,” she cringed.

Liam handed the frog over to Madeleine, who grabbed it instinctively. He signaled for Riley to follow him, and they made their way up the stairs to the bedroom.

“So you’re not going to pee on a frog?” Drake called out as they exited the room.

“Ugh,” Madeleine groaned. “None of this would be happening if I were queen.” She turned to Drake, thrusting the frog in his direction. “Make yourself useful and deal with this thing.” She stormed out of the room, mumbling to herself, questioning where things went wrong for her.

Drake looked down at the frog with a grin. “God I love Texas.”

Permatag:

@3pawandme @alj4890 @busywoman @charlotteg234 @cordonia-gothqueen @cordoniaqueensworld @differenttyphoonwerewolf @emkay512 @foreverethereal123 @hopelessromanticmonie @iaminlovewithtrr @imashybish @kat-tia801 @kingliam2019 @malblk21 @mom2000aggie @neotericthemis @nestledonthaveone @queen-arabella-of-cordonia @secretaryunpaid @sincerelyella @theroyalheirshadowhunter @tessa-liam @twinkleallnight @txemrn

Liam:

@amandablink @custaroonie @jared2612

TRR:

@21-wishes @ao719 @belencha77 @burnsoslow @lovingchoices14 @the0afnan

@choicesficwriterscreations @choicesflashfics

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prettyboisteveharrington · 7 months ago

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So I’m rewriting the royal romance book two and I’m like wow look at all these things I can add but also wow I want more moments between Drake and MC or moments that end differently and no fic has so far pulled me in so I’m going to do it myself 😤

#thoughts and prayers please #drake walker x mc #drake walker #choices #also the plot of book two is fine but I would rather flesh out the romance and friendships #also I don’t like how Liam is so hopeful that MC loves him while she’s head over heels in love with Drake #Hana Lee also deserves better #Hana Lee #liam rys #the royal romance

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sillyboards · 1 year ago

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drake walker - the royal romance - choices

#drake walker #royal romance #choices #choices stories you play #pixelberry #aesthetic board #aesthetic #moodboard #liam rys #drake x mc

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choicesficwriterscreations · 8 months ago

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TRR F/AotW: May 5 - 11, 2024

✒️ = Fanfic | 📱 = Text Fics/Edits | 🎨 = Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+ 🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQIA

HANA LEE

Reader Fatigue ✒️🏳‍🌈 | Hana Lee x Kiara Theron - @lizzybeth1986

Rose Gold ✒️🏳‍🌈 | Hana Lee x Kiara Theron - @lizzybeth1986

LIAM RYS

All For Love ✒️ | Liam x MC, F!OC & M!OC - @rosesnink

Capitulo (Series) ✒️ | Liam x MC - @belencha77 Chapter 13: Emociones Nuevas Chapter 14: Un Baile Para Recordar Chapter 15: No Olvidemos Esta Noche Chapter 16: Regata Real Chapter 17: Carrera Hasta El Final

Turn The Page (Series) ✒️ | Liam Rys x F!OC - @tessa-liam Chapter 12: Come Back To Me

MULTIPLE PAIRINGS

All That She Wants (Series) ✒️Ⓜ️ | Multiple Pairings - @angelasscribbles Chapter 5: Consequences Liam Rys x MC, Liam Rys x Olivia Nevrakis, Drake Walker x MC

The Royal Romance Retelling (Series) ✒️ | Multiple Pairings - @eadanga Chapter 8, Part 3 Liam Rys x MC, Drake Walker x MC

Main F/AtoW List: May 5 - 11, 2024

#choices fanfic #choices fanart #playchoices #choices fanfiction #choices fic writers creations #cfwc fics of the week #cfwc art of the week #the royal romance #hana lee #liam rys #drake walker #olivia nevrakis #kiara theron #liam rys x mc #drake walker x mc

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tessa-liam · 3 months ago

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Chance of a Lifetime

Thank you @kyra75 for your ask -- prompt #2, Rainy/Snow Day for @choicesprompts -- Flufftober event!

Choices Book: The Royal Romance, Book 2 -- timeline/the engagement tour in Paris

Pairing: Liam Rys x Riley Brooks (F!MC)

Rating: mature

Category: fluff, one-shot, ask/prompt

Words: 2.4K, with sprinkles of Canon

A/N1: not Beta'd, please excuse all errors.

AN2: my submission for@choicesmonthlychallenge Prompts: pets/holding hands/laughter

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Stretching her arms over her head, Riley slowly opened one eye as she heard the familiar knock on her cabin door. The morning sun shone through the train window and across her bed. She softly smiled and swung her legs over the side, her feet touching the cool floor. She yawned and walked over to the door, pulling it open.

"Rise and shine, queen-to-be!" Maxwell Beaumont was his usual jubilant self. "Did you sleep well, little blossom? I brought you some breakfast!"

The rich aroma of medium roast coffee hit her senses while Chance jumped up excitedly at the smell of pancakes and bacon. ‘Arf ... Arf ...’

“Ah, yes. My entrance is welcomed by the corgi choir."

"That smells amazing. Thank you soooo much, Max."

"You are very welcome, Your Majesty," Maxwell winked, giving a little bow and grinning at her. "You'd better hurry and get ready."

The Royal court was in Paris, France; today's event ... the Royal tea party.

Riley took the tray from Maxwell, and Chance sat at her feet. "Good morning, little pup," Maxwell cooed, as Chance happily accepted a pet and scratch behind his ears.

"So, are you ready for afternoon tea with the former queen?" Maxwell asked.

"Yeah, I guess. She's not exactly my favorite person, but... I'm still curious."

"She's a formidable woman," Maxwell shuddered.

"But on the bright side, this could be the perfect opportunity to corner her about her involvement with the scandal and get your answers!"

"I hope you're right," Riley sighed, slipping Chance a small piece of bacon.

"At a public event, she'll be caught off guard! She won't be able to run off or dodge you." Max added.

"And if she's not forthcoming, we might be able to do a little digging with the other nobles at the tea party."

"That's the spirit!" Maxwell grinned. "If you ever need a little extra confidence, you know who to call."

"Yes. Thank you for everything, Max."

"Of course. But first, get ready for the day! We don't want to be late!"

‘Arf!’ Chance barked, agreeing with him.

"Can Chance come?" Riley wondered aloud.

"I wish he could, but the venue doesn't allow pets. I'll bring him along to the duchy later, though."

"Okay, that's good, thanks, Max."

"Now, go and get ready. Don't worry about a thing. I've got the corgis covered. See you at the tea party!" Maxwell gave Riley a mock salute before he closed her door behind him.

After finishing her breakfast and a quick shower, Riley pulled out a gorgeous light blush dress with a delicate floral print. She applied her makeup, dried her hair, then snapped a gold barrette into place.

She stepped out of the train and went into the waiting limousine. After a short drive, Riley arrived at the extravagant tea party at an uptown Parisian hotel. It was a beautiful spring day, and the hotel was decorated with the finest flower arrangements.

Riley entered the formal tearoom; hearing soft, elegant music and people's chatter. The room was decorated with luxurious chandeliers and intricate floral arrangements. Tables were covered with fine linen tablecloths, and chairs were upholstered in plush velvet. A small orchestra was playing softly in the corner, and servers were carrying trays laden with exquisite tea sets and delicious-looking cakes. Riley recognized a few ladies and gentlemen from the court, but everyone else was a mystery.

She spotted Madeleine and Hana chatting at the far end of the hall. As she approached, Madeleine spotted her and quickly ended the conversation with Hana.

"Lady Riley, its good of you to join us."

"This is lovely; I am drowning in ruffles," Riley quipped.

"I'm afraid that's one of the finer points of an elegant event like this one. To be honest, I wouldn't expect you to appreciate it lady Riley, so don't strain yourself."

"Oh, we wouldn't want that, would we?" Riley countered, rolling her eyes.

"Well, do try to enjoy yourself." Madeleine sauntered off before Riley could say anything else.

"Wow. That was... nice." Riley responded sarcastically under her breath. Stepping to the side, trying to read the place cards, she bumped into someone.

"Well, hello. What a pleasure to see you here, Lady Riley. You look stunning, as always." Liam smiled, expressing tenderness as he kissed her cheek.

"Liam! Thank you. It's great to see you, too! I didn't think you'd be here."

"My schedule's been quite busy lately. I am only here to make the opening remarks. I was actually hoping to spend some time with you after this event."

"That would be wonderful." Riley answered, delightedly.

"It's been too long. I'd love to hear how you're doing."

"Liam, ...wishing I could kiss you right now."

"Lady ... Riley you shouldn't say such things." Liam murmered as he looked at her hungrily, his eyes sweeping over her face.

"Maybe I'm hoping you'll get a little reckless." Riley whispered.

“Maxwell mentioned that you recently adopted a puppy.”

Riley’s eyes lit up, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Oh, yeah, his name is Chance. He's a little ball of orange and white fluff. He was lost when Maxwell found him.”

"That sounds wonderful. I'm glad you're enjoying his company."

"He's a really good boy. He's so friendly and happy. He loves to play, and he's really good at fetching."

"I can't wait to meet him. Maybe I'll even steal him from you," Liam teased.

"You can try, but I'm pretty sure he'd choose me," Riley shot back, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

"I would love to meet him sometime. In fact, we could spend the afternoon together at the park."

"That sounds lovely."

Noticing dignitaries walking towards them, behind Riley, Liam sighs regrettedly,

"I fear our time alone is coming to an end ... I better greet these guests. But, please wait for me. I don't want to delay any longer to spend some time with you. Let's go after the tea party."

"Okay." Riley beamed

"There's a break in the tour schedule tonight so I can slip out for the night. See you later?" Liam looked at her pleadingly.

"Yes, Liam ... later."

Riley felt the heat rise in her cheeks and butterflies in her stomach as Liam kissed her cheek, letting his lips linger on her cheek.

Squeezing her hand, Liam turned away to greet the nobles.

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Placing the linen table napkin on her lap, Riley’s attention was pulled to the sound of Madeleine's voice as she stepped in front of a microphone on the dais. As she begins her formal address to the court, Olivia slid into the chair next to Riley.

“I never liked her.”

“You don't like anyone, Liv.”

“True, but I especially dislike her.”

“Oh, dear, let's get something to drink.” Hana responds trying to change the subject of conversation.

“Of course, let's engage in frivolous social conversation and engage in witty banter.” Olivia snidely responds. Her mood quickly turning despondent as she watched the King address the room.

Riley noticed her abrupt change in mood as her expression shifted to sadness as she watched Liam across the room.

“Olivia, are you okay?” Riley asked in a whisper as Olivia shakes her head, “No ... he's engaged to Madeleine and in love with you ... I can't help how I feel about him, can I?”

"Olivia, I think --"

Abruptly standing up from the table, “at least I still have my pride. Just let me leave with it.”

Olivia walked out without looking back. Hana watched her leave with a concerned look on her face. “I wonder what that was about.”

Riley bit her lip as she turned her gaze to regard Hana.

“I hope she's able to sort things out. She's been through so much."

"Speaking of which ... how are you doing, Riley?”

“I'm holding up okay,” Riley sighed, seeing the opportunity to talk to Queen Regina.

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After a disappointing conversation with the queen mother, and later, saying goodbye to Hana ...

Riley looked up to see Liam waiting for her at the front entrance, appearing eager to spend some time together.

Riley couldn't help but smile as she approached him.

"Your Majesty," she dipped into a small curtsy, smiling coyly.

"Lady Riley," Liam greeted her, a smile lighting up his face.

As he escorted Riley to his SUV, Liam leaned close and softly spoke,

"we'll be having company." Liam chuckled at her confused look, as the sliding passenger door opened.

Riley peeked inside and saw a fluffy ball of orange and white fur curled up on the back seat. "Chance!"

Chance's ears perked up at the sound of her voice. He jumped out of the car, barking happily. He jumped around her, wagging his tail so fast that his entire butt shook.

Riley laughed, dropping to her knees. Chance jumped into her lap, licking her face.

Liam grinned. "Looks like he missed you."

"Aw, I missed you, too."

Arriving at a Parisian dog park, the crisp autumn air filled Riley's lungs as she breathed deeply. Puffy, white and gray clouds were overhead, and the trees were ablaze with red, orange and yellow around you.

Riley and Liam walked hand-in-hand, Chance trotting ahead of them. The leaves crunched under their feet, and the sounds of children playing nearby filled the air.

"It's such a beautiful day," Riley remarked, looking around.

"It is," Liam agreed. "Autumn is my favorite season. I love the changing colors of the leaves, and the way the air feels chilled."

Riley looked over at Liam, admiring the way his blue eyes shone in the sunlight. "I love the way you see the world, Liam."

"Likewise. You make me want to see everything in a new light."

They continued walking, taking in the beauty of the park. Chance ran ahead, chasing birds and squirrels.

As they rounded a bend, Riley spotted a man and his dog. She watched as the man tossed a ball, and the dog darted after it. The dog returned, the ball in his mouth, and the man pet him lovingly.

"That's what I want," Riley said suddenly. "To have a relationship with Chance like that."

"You will," Liam assured her. "Chance loves you, and you're already doing a great job with him. You're a natural."

As they reached the center of the park, Riley looked up. The sky was now darker; the sun hidden by the clouds.

"I wish we could just stay here, in this moment," Riley breathed. "It's perfect."

"It is." Liam gazed into her eyes, a smile tugging at his lips.

Riley leaned closer, and Liam closed the distance between them. Their lips met, and Riley felt her heart flutter. Liam's lips were soft and warm, and Riley sighed contentedly.

The moment was interrupted by the sudden downpour of rain. Riley squealed and grabbed Liam's arm.

"Let's get under the gazebo," Liam chuckled, bending down to pick up Chance.

They ran to the shelter of the gazebo, laughing and wiping the rain from their faces.

"Well, that was unexpected," Riley giggled.

"I'll say," Liam laughed.

Riley wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for another kiss. This time, the kiss was deeper, more passionate.

They stayed under the gazebo, kissing, as the rain fell around them. It was a perfect moment, and Riley never wanted it to end.

"Lady Riley," Liam breathed.

"Hmm?"

"You're getting wet."

"I am."

"And you don't even seem to care."

"I don't."

Liam laughed, shaking his head. "What am I going to do with you?"

"I can think of a few things," Riley grinned, kissing him again.

Liam returned the kiss fervently, wrapping his arms around her tightly. They stayed under the gazebo, the rain pouring down around them, lost in each other.

They pulled apart reluctantly as Chance barked and ran onto the grass and runs quickly back over to them, with a ball in his mouth.

"It seems he's ready for a game of fetch," Liam chuckled.

"I'm ready, too," Riley said, winking at Liam.

"Let's play."

Riley tossed the ball for Chance, and they both laughed as they joined the chase, returning to the downpour outside of the gazebo.

Riley giggled as she spun around, her arms extended. Liam grabbed her hands and pulled her close, the rain dripping from their hair.

"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," Liam stroked her cheek and gently moved her hair behind her ear.

Riley's breath caught in her throat.. She didn't know what to say.

"Liam," she whispered.

Liam leaned down, his lips brushing hers. Riley's heart raced, and she kissed him back, the rain falling around them. Liam's hands were warm on her back, and she pressed herself closer to him, deepening the kiss.

It was the most perfect moment Riley could have imagined. She didn't want it to end.

The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the park. The rain had stopped, and the air smelled fresh and clean. Riley and Liam were walking hand-in-hand, Chance trotting along beside them.

"Today was wonderful," Riley said. "Thank you, Liam."

"I should be the one thanking you," Liam replied. "You've brought so much happiness into my life."

"You deserve all the happiness in the world, Liam," Riley said, smiling up at him.

Liam leaned in, his lips brushing against hers. Riley's heart fluttered, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

"I want to show you something," Liam murmured, breaking the kiss.

"What is it?"

"Come on." Liam took her hand and led her down a path, Chance following close behind.

"Where are we going?" Riley asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It's a surprise." Liam grinned, and Riley's heart skipped a beat.

They walked through the park, the sunset painting the sky in shades of pink and gold. Riley could see the Eiffel Tower in the distance, and the streets of Paris were bustling with activity.

"Close your eyes," Liam said.

"Okay." Riley did as he asked, trusting him completely.

"Now, take my hand and step forward."

Liam's hand was warm and strong, and he guided her carefully. After a few steps, he stopped.

"Can I open my eyes?"

"Not yet," Liam chuckled.

Riley waited patiently, the anticipation building.

"Okay," Liam said. "Open your eyes."

Riley opened her eyes, and gasped. They were standing at the edge of the lake, and the water reflected the sky perfectly. The colors were vibrant, and the Eiffel Tower was lit up, casting a golden glow over everything.

Riley's hand was warm in his. Liam glanced at her and smiled. They were walking through the park, the stars twinkling above. Chance was trotting alongside them, his tongue hanging out.

"It's such a beautiful night," Riley remarked, looking up at the sky.

"It is," Liam agreed. "Though I am a bit hungry."

"I'm starving," Riley laughed. "All that exercise has me worked up an appetite."

"Let's head back to the train, then." Liam started leading them towards the edge of the park.

"Oh, no, you don't," Riley teased, tugging him back. "I have a better idea."

"What's that?"

"Let's grab some food first and then bring it back to the train."

"Sounds like a plan," Liam grinned.

"There's a little café not far from here. We could get something to go."

"Perfect."

"C'mon, Chance," Riley called. "You're eating too!"

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@choicesprompts @flufftober @lovealexhunt @choicesficwriterscreations @angelasscribbles @kyra75 @choicesmonthlychallenge @choicescommunityevents

#choicesprompts #flufftober #tessa liam writes #the royal romance #liam rys #tessa liam asks #trr fanfic #choices fic writers creations #liam x riley #riley brooks #king liam x mc #choices community events #choices prompt challenge #choices fanfic #cfwc fics of the week #choices monthly challenge

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kristinamae093 · 3 months ago

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Ghosted

Ghosted - Family Ties (Chapter Thirteen)

Book/Pairing - TRR - Liam x f!MC (Riley Brooks)

Characters belong to Pixelberry.

Tags - @choicesficwriterscreations

It's another long one 😬👉👈🥹. Listen I'm only slightly sorry, lol. A lot is happening here, LOL.

A few evenings later, what would have been a polo match in Portavira was canceled, and instead, a small, intimate memorial took place for Penelope near the water. The forecast for the day perfectly matched the melancholy atmosphere, as storm clouds rolled in and painted the sky in dark hues of blue and gray, the crisp breeze causing the temperatures to drop well below average.

The nobility mourned alongside the family, but whispers of what happened and why spread like wildfire. An official announcement about her death was released, but the details were incredibly vague; they wanted to withhold that information until they had someone to hold accountable. Emmaline and Landon cooperated with Ray, who worked around the clock to find some kind of suspect or a clue to lead them to one.

Liam was confident Ray would promptly produce an answer. Olivia helped him scour the crime scene from top to bottom, but little clues remained. However, Penelope’s note had fingerprints on it and her body showed prominent signs of a physical altercation, all of which pointed to her trying to fight back. The coroner extracted DNA from underneath her fingernails and found bruising and discoloration on her forearms and shoulders. He concluded this case was a homicide, which didn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

Every ounce of evidence was sent off for further analysis, and everyone anxiously awaited the results. The cross reference in the national security database would surely produce a name to match those fingerprints, and they hoped it would put them one step closer to unraveling the chaotic web around them. Ray looked at the surveillance system but found someone deleted the footage from the camera positioned outside of Penelope’s room for a certain period — no doubt when whoever took her life was inside.

They had a time frame, which was at least a start, but that was the only thing they knew.

Ray did as asked and backtracked to look into Rhonda’s demise. Liam was correct in his assumption that most of the damning evidence was long gone, but they confirmed the legitimacy of the second report they found; Bastien’s fingerprints were indeed on the murder weapon. Although they remained unsure of where the brutality initially took place, Bastien would face charges of homicide — and more — as the story unfolded, and Liam intended to serve him multiple platters of cold, hard justice. He was being monitored at a local hospital under a continuous watch from three heavily armed guards and medical professionals.

Liam told the guards if Bastien miraculously disappeared, they would face charges of aiding a dangerous criminal, even going as far as threatening to make them stand trial for treason. He didn’t use the term hate lightly, but he hated Bastien and was determined to make him stand before God and everyone to take accountability for what he’d done. His doctors had no choice but to put him into a medically induced coma while they tried to stabilize internal bleeding from Liam’s relentless assault, but when he woke, he would get moved to a permanent cell.

They still knew who held that kind of control over Bastien, and that was Constantine. Liam avoided him at all costs in the short time since that revelation. He wanted to question him and knew he needed to, but he honestly didn’t know how he could remain calm and keep his head level, and this wasn��t something he could send Olivia to do; he needed to hear it, straight from the horse’s mouth. However, he genuinely didn’t want to hurt the man who gave him life, but if it came out that he harmed or acted against Riley, his body might react without a second thought and he knew that would not be pretty. Perhaps he should have kept his cool with Bastien to get more information, but he didn’t regret taking out some of his aggressions; if anything, it was a release he didn’t realize he needed.

Since Ray was now officially investigating the homicides, Olivia took over the search for Riley and Tariq. She wasn’t as skilled as Ray in tracking missing persons but had some basic knowledge. Her results were the same as his — there were no traces of either. She contacted the airport and requested security footage for the date and time Bastien specified, but unfortunately for them, he told the truth when he said he dropped her off in a blind spot; the SUV wasn’t on camera and Riley was nowhere to be seen.

She watched the footage from every angle until the sun broke out and illuminated a nearly empty parking lot, but never saw a single sign of anyone relevant.

They dissected the file ‘Operation Ghost’ from top to bottom for every detail. It held no other useful information, but enough to charge Bastien with murder and prove Riley did not disgracefully leave with another suitor. Technically, it was enough to clear her name, but it did nothing to ensure her safety or help them locate her. Her phone also received a thorough examination but uncovered nothing of importance.

Liam knew he could not wait any longer because time was of the essence, and they needed answers; he had to corner Constantine and demand an explanation. It crossed his mind more than once that his father could know something, but he shook it off, concluding there was no way Constantine would do something of that nature. In retrospect, he was the reigning monarch at the time of the incident; something of this magnitude couldn’t have gone completely undetected, especially if Bastien was involved. The thought alone shredded his fragile heart, but he pieced it back together with bandaids and pushed forward.

Liam’s mental state was fluctuant, at best. He felt unending guilt for allowing all of this madness to happen, and that pit doubled in size with every passing hour. If he had been more attentive and alert from the beginning, none of this would be happening. Innocent lives were taken all too soon from a path of unrestrained fury, and he truly felt like that blood lay on his hands. Not to mention Riley’s heinous assault rested heavily on his conscience, creating wave after wave of remorse mixed in with soul-consuming rage. His out-of-body experience continued to taunt him; her screams and those vile chortles flowed through his mind on an insistent loop, taunting him with shreds of the truth, but he still couldn't put a face to that man's voice. And now, he had the added stress that she suspected he ordered her assault. He hoped she wouldn’t believe the lie, but without seeing her, he automatically jumped to the worst-case scenarios all the way around.

They decided Liam and Leo would quietly pull Constantine aside and question him after the memorial concluded. There were only a few events left of the engagement tour, and now the wedding had much more at stake than only the future of the monarchy. It wasn’t a hunch they had confirmation for, but they just knew if they didn’t locate Riley before it was time for Liam to say I do, something drastic would happen.

During the ceremony, Liam’s heart broke for the shattered remnants of a mourning family, but he couldn’t help but feel they were on the verge of a breakthrough. If his father was involved, this couldn’t climb the social ladder any higher, meaning Constantine could hold all the answers he desperately sought. He kept telling himself he would control his emotions regardless of what his father said, but everyone knew that was a lie, especially given his unfiltered and raw reactions as of late. Leo expected a knock-down, drag-out between Liam and their father, but he would stand beside his brother through hell and high water when it came down to it.

As the service winded down, Liam made a bee-line for Constantine, who was deep in conversation with Godfrey and Adelaide, with Leo hot on his heels. He made it to the group and plastered on the politest smile he could muster, ignoring a glare from the duke. “Excuse me, but I need to speak with my father.”

Constantine waved him off, barely even glancing in his direction. “Not now, son. I’m in the middle of a discussion.”

Liam forcefully clenched his jaw and swallowed down the ball of rage forming in his throat. “I insist on speaking with you. It is urgent.” His eyes pleaded, but he didn’t make it too noticeable; just enough for Constantine to read because the last thing he wanted was to alert Godfrey and Adelaide. It took every ounce of willpower he had not to get irate and start screaming right then and there, but he was determined not to lose his head — at least until after his father answered some questions.

Constantine’s irritation rose, but he paused and observed Liam and within a second, his resolve weakened. For the first time in weeks, he truly took in his son and what he saw left him speechless; his sunken and darkened eyes with large bags underneath, his slouched posture, and he spotted Liam fidget with his hands, even though he tried to hide it. He knew Liam spent a few hours at the hospital recently, but since he was released so quickly, he assumed it was a farce, or someone being overprotective of the monarch. However, at that moment, he started to question his well-being.

Leo stood beside him, but wouldn’t look up to meet any of their gazes. Constantine heard he was around somewhere, but hadn’t seen him until the beginning of the ceremony. That wasn’t unusual, as Leo typically avoided his father like the plague, but he consistently interacted with Regina when he visited, and even she hadn’t mentioned him. His body language seemed nervous compared to the usual cocky demeanor Leo always wore, as he continuously bounced in place and mindlessly trapped his fingers against his thigh, raising multiple red flags.

Constantine had never seen his sons in such a way; the tension within them was palpable, making it impossible to ignore.

He casually finished the rest of his wine, doing his best not to raise suspicion of their distress to the current audience. “Alright, boys, you have my attention.” He politely waved toward the lingering duke and duchess, before following Liam and Leo away from the crowd.

Liam silently led them down the beach, away from the surrounding commotion. While they walked, he racked his brain, trying to figure out the best way to approach this. When he ascended the throne, he never imagined it would lead him here — questioning the man he put on a pedestal his entire life about his one true love's disappearance.

His heart pounded so hard in his chest that he was sure it would jump out at any moment, and the bites of finger foods he consumed tumbled in his stomach, threatening to reemerge. Every step crunched in the sand, the sounds echoing in the deafening silence. The ocean lapped against nearby rocks, but was the farthest thing from calming, white noise; every violent crash amplified the tension, the air nearly crackling from the combined stress and the distant lightning.

They reached a small enclosure away from the gathered nobility and sat inside. As they did, Constantine quickly asked, “What’s going on? Are you alright, Liam? Were you in the hospital?”

“I was, but that’s not important right now… ‘’ Liam trailed off, his voice soft; a stark contrast to the swell of emotions in his head. He remained silent momentarily before murmuring, “I need to ask you about something…”

“Alright, well, what is it?”

“Before I begin, will you promise to be honest with me? I — I’m begging you.” Liam pleaded, but wouldn't meet his father's curious gaze. His hands trembled violently, leaving him with no choice but to clasp them tightly in his lap.

Constantine furrowed his brow. “I shall do my best, son, but what’s this pertaining? What’s the matter?”

Liam glanced at Leo, his distress shining brightly, and his brother gave him a reassuring nod in return. He wanted so badly to believe his father was innocent, but deep down, he knew he wasn’t, and the thought alone made him fearful; he wasn’t sure he could stop the wrath that may ensue once the confession left his mouth, but he needed to hear it, regardless.

With a deep, shaky breath, Liam began. “I think you know something about what happened with Riley. We know she didn’t leave with Tariq and the photos were fake. We found her things in Applewood with evidence to suggest she suffered an attack. Bastien has been working to cover it up and is responsible for that maid’s death — possibly Penelope’s too — to ensure this stays hidden. He confessed and told us you ordered him to engage… I don’t want to believe it, but I think he told the truth…”

He sat forward but kept his vision cast downward, dread hitting the pit of his stomach like an anvil. “I need to know where she is. I don’t care about everything else, aside from the murders. Just — tell me where Riley is.”

Constantine’s jaw dropped further and further the longer Liam spoke. Leo observed with a critical eye, but his father’s confusion only intensified throughout the story. Constantine was good at a stoic facade, but he was no actor and Leo knew all his little tells — he was genuinely shocked. However, there was guilt in his eyes; when Liam mentioned the scandal, Leo saw the flash in his gaze, but otherwise, he only showed bewilderment.

“Liam… I —” Constantine started before he forcefully coughed, but quickly cleared his throat and tried again. “I admit to knowing of the scandal and her relocating back to New York, but I know nothing about the rest.”

Liam’s vision turned crimson, but he squeezed his hands into fists and used every speck of restraint to deny the urge to act on his intrusive thoughts. “How? Bastien has been working to cover it up this entire time! I didn’t tell him to do that — you did, didn’t you?”

“I — I did, son.” He stopped to take a steadying breath. “I told Bastien to bury the tracks, but I only approved the scandal and her returning to the States.”

“You approved the scandal?” He repeated, his brows nearly touching his hairline. “What does that even mean?”

“That’s correct —” Constantine admitted with his head held high. “But I assure you, I did not partake in any of these other things, nor did I know they were happening.” He sighed heavily when Liam and Leo merely stared at him, disbelief etched on their features. “Son, I knew how you felt about her — it was clear. If given the chance, you would have selected her as your queen, but I couldn’t let that happen…”

“Why?” Liam demanded, his tone sharp and harsh.

Constantine’s shoulders slumped, an air of melancholy clouding his expression. “I was afraid, Liam. Look at me — I’m withering faster than an apple rotting in the summer sun. I needed to do everything in my power to ensure you had a stable, capable queen to rule beside you.”

Liam shook his head, the rosy hues in his complexion brightening with every sullen breath. His willpower teetered, hanging on by less than a thread. “Riley would have made an excellent queen. She thrived during the social season! She may not have been born royal, but she fit right in! Everyone accepted her! The people loved her!”

“She was inexperienced, Liam.”

“She could have learned everything she needed to know,” Liam bit out, his patience dwindling rapidly. Leo noticed and shifted in his seat, praying with everything in him that he wasn’t about to go postal.

“Inexperience equals weakness. I was protecting you.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit.” Liam scoffed.

“Liam, believe it or not, I only did it to protect you—”

“So you made me turn my back on her to protect me? She’s in fucking danger because of you! I ignored her because you shoved this down my goddamn throat!” Liam yelled, not caring who heard.

Constantine winced at his volume but calmly responded, “I didn’t know she was in danger. Bastien told me—”

“I don’t believe you. I can’t believe you.” Tears blurred his vision as his entire world came crashing down. He felt a fool for giving him the benefit of the doubt, but that was a mistake he wasn’t willing to make more than once.

“Son—”

“No, you — you’re not my father, not anymore. You threw my mother in my face so much, but look at you! What you’ve become would disgust her!” Liam seethed. “I should banish you right now for lying and betraying your own flesh and blood. Do I mean anything to you?!”

“You mean everything to me, son.” Constantine held his hands up in surrender but remained calm as a cucumber. “And I understand your anger, but I need you to listen to me for a moment—”

“Fuck. You.” Liam growled. He got into Constantine’s personal space quick as lightning and grabbed the front of his shirt, yanking him to his feet. “I hope you rot in hell, you spineless piece of shit.”

Liam balled the fabric in his hands and bore his eyes into Constantine, who merely let it happen, but he didn’t recognize his son; Liam was nowhere to be seen, and he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what this monster before him was. He’d never seen him so worked up, but knew he needed to calm him down so he could plead his case.

Leo approached and rubbed Liam’s shoulder, gently pulling him from his enraged trance. “Li, man —” He gave him a sad smile as Liam faced him. He understood his brother’s fury over the situation, but Constantine hadn’t even started talking. Until they got useful information from him, he had to keep his cool — for Riley. His eyes pleaded with him, but he breathed a sigh of relief when Liam’s features softened as if he got the silent message loud and clear.

Liam turned back to his father and held his intent gaze for a long moment before he pushed him away with a firm shove. The former monarch stumbled, but quickly regained his footing.

Constantine straightened his jacket and sat back down while avoiding the judgemental glares from his sons. He took a deep, shaky breath before he softly started. “Do you remember what happened to your mother? Did you want something similar to happen to Lady Riley?”

“Look around!” Liam bellowed, his face red as a ruby. “It is happening, and you fucking did it!”

Constantine sighed. “I told you, I knew of the scandal and her departure — nothing else. I ordered Bastien to send her back to New York so you both could start over.”

“She never returned to New York!” Liam and Leo yelled in unison.

Constantine furrowed his brow. “... Pardon?”

“Bastien told us he left her for dead in a parking lot after Penelope drugged her, with a plane ticket, but she never went inside!” Liam hastily explained. “She didn’t board, and Bastien told us he later received all her forms of identification in a sealed envelope. We have no fucking clue where she’s at!”

Constantine’s mouth fell ajar. “Bastien told you this?”

“Yes! Are you really trying to sit there and tell me you didn’t know any of this?!”

Constantine remained silent for a long moment, gathering his thoughts, but both Liam and Leo noticed his anger escalating; neither was aware his elevating state caused his already labored breaths to shallow themselves further. His chest tightened and a strange discomfort erupted and traveled the length of his spine, but he shook it off as best as he could, and focused on the need to prove his innocence.

But Constantine was having trouble keeping his composure because he realized he'd been played and lied to — that was abundantly clear. Someone took matters into their own hands and ignored a direct order, and he was unwilling to take the blame for that. Bastien was at their disposal but even he disobeyed his wishes.

They went rogue.

As he took in the deadly determination staring back at him in Liam’s eyes, he realized it was time to come clean. Whatever happened that night did not go according to plan; not his plan, anyway.

“Liam — let me tell you what I know because I did not wish for any of those things to happen. As a matter of fact, I strictly forbid them…”

Lythikos, during the Winter Ball

Constantine retired to the king’s suite much earlier than normal. Usually, he would keep Regina on the dancefloor until both of their feet ached, but he just didn’t have the energy. He insisted she stay at the gathering, as it was still fairly early in the night and one of them needed to be in attendance, but he couldn’t withstand another minute. He was exhausted and found his lung capacity was nowhere near what it should have been; no doubt from his recent cancer diagnosis.

Since Liam’s social season was in full swing, he knew he needed to step down and let him take the position of reigning monarch. He and Regina made the difficult decision together, after hearing his condition was fatal. However, Constantine realized in doing so, he would dump a world of responsibility on Liam’s shoulders, and he remained uncertain if he could handle the pressure so soon after taking on a role that was never meant for him.

Regardless, the suitors all proved themselves capable in one form or another; some more than others. He hoped Liam would make the best decision for Cordonia when the time came, but knew his heart already belonged to a specific candidate. He wanted to forbid Liam from picking her but realized he would ultimately follow his heart. And, at one point, Constantine defied his father and married Eleanor; to speak ill of their hypothetical union would make him a hypocrite, and he knew that. He tried to convince his son to be reasonable and view the situation from a governance perspective, but Liam couldn’t see anything past his puppy love.

Just as Constantine was about to begin his nighttime routine, a sharp knock echoed throughout the room. He furrowed his brow, as everyone knew not to bother him after he retired for the night unless it was an emergency. He hastily dashed to the door and swung it open to find a familiar face on the other side.

“Your Majesty.”

“Hello…” Constantine answered unsurely. “It’s been a while…”

“I’ve kept myself rather busy these days.” Constantine’s face contorted, but before he could press, they continued. “Respectfully, I’m in a bit of a pinch for time.” His company heartedly chuckled. “Do you mind if I come in? I have a proposition for you. One where we both get something we want…”

Constantine eyed his visitor for a moment, but ultimately let them inside as his curiosity got the better of him. He ushered them to the seats situated around the fireplace and took one across from his guest, a thick silence filling the air. “What is this proposition you speak of?”

His companion took a short moment to collect themself but soon began with utmost certainty. “It’s clear who your son intends to choose at the end of this… Lady Riley.”

Constantine noticed the hint of distaste in their tone. “Yes, I believe that as well…”

“And you’ve done nothing to stop it? You and I both know Madeleine is the one who rightfully belongs on the throne.”

“Really?” Constantine challenged. “I’m not sure I understand why—”

“She is a commoner, sir — nothing good will come from that for anyone.”

“I agree with you to an extent, but what am I supposed to do?” Constantine shrugged. “I’ve tried speaking with Liam about it, but he’s not listening.”

“He’s thinking with the wrong head.”

“I concur, but again, how am I supposed to remedy this situation? It’s not like I can send her home before he has the chance to choose her!”

“Perhaps you can.”

His visitor smiled, and Constantine had never seen such a chilling sight. “Pardon?”

“I have a plan… We set her up.”

Constantine’s interest rose. “… How so?”

“We get her alone, send someone to her room, and have a photographer waiting to capture a scandalizing scenario… I’m not sure where just yet, but we can dispose and erase all traces of her after.”

“Dispose?” Constantine shook his head when his comrade nodded, completely stunned by the suggestion. “No, we will not be doing that.”

His guest winced. “Perhaps not dispose, but only ensure she leaves and can never return.”

“And how do you suggest we do that?”

“We detain her somewhere — perhaps use the tun—”

“No.” Constantine sternly interrupted. “I will not allow you to do such things to her. Staging a scandal I could agree with, but I will not let you imprison her simply because of her origins.” He scratched his chin, deep in thought. “Perhaps a ticket back to New York would suffice, instead.”

“We can’t just send her back to New York! She will surely find her way back, or Liam will—”

“If Liam is heartbroken, he will let his duty guide him; that’s the only way he will leave her behind.” Constantine returned but kept his vision locked on the floor.

“We can’t simply rely on breaking his heart!”

“I know my son — he’s emotionally driven. If he’s devastated, he’ll keep going…” Constantine admitted in a low voice. He felt guilty about even entertaining the idea; to manipulate his son and the situation, knowing how he felt about Riley, but the past would always be there to haunt him and he couldn’t let it go, no matter how hard he tried.

“... So, you’re agreeing to the scandal?”

Lady Riley’s presence was pleasantly surprising and she had undeniable chemistry with Liam. In another universe, he would eagerly support their relationship. However, the throne was not to be taken lightly; it was a dangerous position that would put not only her but Liam at risk as well. He’d already lived through one assassination attempt and buried his mother after her demise, yet he still entertained the idea of letting a commoner rule beside him. He didn’t understand this weakness could bring Cordonia crumbling to the ground, taking his heart and man-hood down with it.

Constantine briefly thought back to the torturous months after Eleanor’s death — how heartbroken and hopeless he felt. Those were the darkest times of his life, and he truly didn’t know how Cordonia wasn't brought to its knees then. He wanted to protect Liam from experiencing that type of pain at all costs. A harmless scandal and sending Riley back to New York was a decent option; he would ensure Liam continued for the greater good of Cordonia and, eventually, she would become a distant memory.

His country and his son would be safe, and Constantine could rest in peace, knowing he did everything to protect what was important to him.

However, he didn’t know if he could genuinely trust the person before him. The solutions they suggested were extreme, and he did not wish for those to come to fruition. On the other hand, he recognized his time left dwindled rapidly, and as it was, he physically could not make any plan come to fruition and he couldn’t step away at such a crucial moment either. He needed to ensure the transition from monarch to monarch went smoothly, especially after Leo's sudden abdication.

There was no other choice than to take a chance and hope for the best.

“Will you be present during the operation?” Constantine questioned with a curious eye.

“Yes, sir. I will make sure everything goes according to plan and they’re removed from the premises after.” The response came immediately, with not even a single second of hesitation.

“They? Who’s the other?”

“Lord Tariq — he’s the perfect candidate. He’s naïve enough to go along but still noble. The goal is to photograph them in a compromising position.”

“Compromising how?”

“That will depend on how the situation flows, I suppose, but something to disgrace her and make your son and the nation believe she left to be with Tariq. We’ll find a media outlet or something to leak the story and soon, her name will leave a bitter taste in everyone’s mouths — including Liam.”

“And how will we enlist this photographer? We can’t do it ourselves — it’s too risky.”

“I'll request the aid of Lady Penelope.”

Constantine’s brows rose. “And you expect she will agree? What will you offer in return?”

“Don’t worry about her,” His guest smirked. “I have my ways, sir… She will comply with the request willingly.”

After a moment of deep consideration, Constantine slowly nodded. “I can agree to this, but perhaps we should let her finish out the season to avoid raising suspicion.”

His visitor tensed. “Respectfully, I don’t see that as a viable option. If someone has the chance to get to her, they may convince her to stay. It has to happen before the end of the social season — at a random moment, without notice.”

Constantine stared off into the fireplace as he pondered that statement, but ultimately knew it was true. He could admit Riley was kind, funny, and incredibly smart, but those features couldn’t grant her the specific birthright she needed. He couldn’t let it happen; it wouldn’t end well for anyone involved, especially Liam and Riley.

This had to happen.

“I suppose you’re correct.” Constantine finally agreed with a heavy sigh.

“She has to leave beforehand. It’s the only way we can make it work.”

Constantine bowed his head, overcome with a rush of various emotions, as their plan snapped itself into place. “... Alright, I’ll allow you to oversee the operation.”

“Marvelous!” His company grinned. “Perhaps you have a few guards to spare? Just to ensure everything runs smoothly… Maybe — Bastien?”

“Alright — you have Bastien at your disposal to assist in whatever you may need and he will report to you, but he is to be in charge of Lady Riley’s departure at the end of the night.”

“As you wish, my liege… Just to clarify, you’re putting me in charge of this operation?”

“I — am.” Constantine reluctantly agreed, but quickly added, “Do not make me regret it… Now, what of Tariq?”

“I'll handle him. You and Bastien deal with the commoner.”

“Okay, but neither of them is to be harmed in any of this, and I shall tell Bastien the same — do you understand?” He eyed his visitor critically, searching for any signs of ill intent, but found none.

“I do, sir.” His guest snickered, a small notion the monarch didn’t notice.

Constantine mindlessly nodded, sufficed by the answer. “This needs to happen fast — perhaps in Applewood, as it’s an older estate and it’ll be easier to have all of this go unnoticed.”

“I agree.”

Constantine inspected the person across from him once more, causing his cohort to shift in their seat. “Remember what I said — neither of them is to be injured, only removed — that is an order. And you had better make this quick and quiet — nothing that’s going to end up causing more harm than good.”

“Understood, Sir… Now, what can we do about Duchess Olivia?”

“I ordered Bastien to ensure she went back to New York — safely, and he told me he did. I pushed the scandal on you because I assumed the plan came to pass as instructed. It wasn’t until this conversation that I realized they played me.”

Liam couldn’t believe what he’d heard. It hurt him in a way he didn’t know was possible, to know his father acted against the woman he loved in such a way, even if he says his intentions were pure. Plus, the manipulation he suffered at the hands of the person who should’ve shielded him from the animosity shredded the frail remnants of their relationship. He felt the tear within his chest, as that father-son bond crumbled into a million pieces. He truly didn’t know who the man sitting across from him was, and couldn’t conclude if he could trust his confession. Constantine looked genuine, almost remorseful, as he spoke, but he knew his father could shift and mold himself to adjust to any situation.

That’s what snakes do best.

“I don’t believe you,” Liam suddenly declared, breaking the tense stillness.

Constantine’s shoulders sank. “Liam, I —”

“No!” Liam shouted as he shot up from his seat to tower over his father. “You’re lying and I demand to know the truth!”

“Look at me, Liam!” Constantine breathlessly pleaded. “What do I have to gain from lying at this point?! I’m dying! I never wished for harm to come to her — I only wanted to remove her from the situation—”

Liam sardonically laughed. “Yeah, well they fucking did, alright!”

“Liam, I apologize. I trusted the wrong person and—”

“Me too — me too.” Liam shook his head, tears of rage burning his eyes. “How could you?”

“Son —”

“YOU LET THEM HURT HER!” Liam wailed, not caring if anyone could hear their altercation.

“I didn’t! I specifically told them not to!”

“But yet — you ordered Bastien to go along with it?”

Constantine winced. “I did, but he never mentioned any of the additional things you speak of. I told him to cover up the scandal — nothing else. His job was simply to escort Riley to the airport and ensure it stayed quiet. Anything additional, he did under the supervision of someone who was not me.”

“But you told him to clean it up?” Leo questioned.

“Yes…” Constantine swallowed thickly, followed by a small coughing fit. He recovered quickly and continued, “But I didn’t know—”

“Yeah, well, for once, Bastien understood the assignment — maybe even a little too well.” Leo retorted, completely blown away by Constantine’s admissions. He regained himself rather quickly, however, and a light bulb suddenly went off inside his head. “Have you ever heard the names Anton and Claudius before?”

Liam froze, but centered his death glare on his father, watching for any waivers in his facade but Constantine’s face only contorted, his confusion showcased brightly. “... Who?”

Liam scoffed. “Keep lying and see what happens.” He laughed indignantly, his hands balled into fists at his sides. “I’m not playing these games. I want to know the truth, and I want to know now.”

“I am being truthful with you. Listen to me, Liam — I never should have gone along with it and I am so incredibly sorry,” Constantine pleaded, but as he finished, his lungs screamed for air. He inhaled deeply, searching for oxygen, and found just enough to continue. “I never should have agreed, but I was afraid, and I let that fear guide my decisions in the matter.”

“I do not accept your apology! You–you’re a monster!” Liam yelled, his voice cracking on the last syllable as one lone tear traveled down his cheek.

“I — I know, son…” Constantine hung his head. “I regret the things I’ve done, even more so now that I know Lady Riley is potentially in danger.” He hacked again, but then forcefully clenched his jaw. “I told him not to…” He grumbled to himself, which Liam nor Leo heard.

His lungs burned with every shallow breath, and his pulse steadily rose, causing his hands to shake and turn clammy. He wanted to blame his sudden change in state on nerves for being caught, but realized it ran deeper than that; something was wrong. A tight sensation in his chest made him feel as if a weight sat on top, growing in pounds by the minute, and every breath seemed to do the opposite of what it should. His windpipe slowly narrowed, and the erratic thump of his heart was so forceful, that he felt it from the tips of his toes to his temples.

Leo interjected himself. “You don’t know where she is? Or Tariq? Really?”

Constantine didn’t answer but stared off into space with furrowed brows as he recalled conversations, while simultaneously trying to catch his breath and settle his elevating state. He and his conspirator spoke only a few times regarding the ordeal, but every time, they subtly asked for insignificant details regarding a specific location within a few of the duchies. He never thought much of it because the areas were abandoned, never used, and inaccessible; but it would be possible if someone knew where it was, and he’d practically given them a detailed road map to it.

His eyes widened as he slowly turned to Liam and spoke just above a whisper. “The tunnels…”

“You mean that old wives’ tale about underground passageways?” Leo returned.

“It’s not a tale, but very real,” Constantine replied, matter-of-factly.

“And you think that’s where she is?”

“It's a huge possibility. If you go deep enough, the passageways lead to cells, almost like a hidden dungeon. Our ancestors used them as torture chambers when someone spoke out of line against the monarchy, but those accusations are mostly hearsay. He kept asking about it when we spoke, but I didn’t make the connection.” Constantine coughed again, trying his hardest to hide his rapidly deteriorating state.

Liam’s heart rate involuntarily quickened, the light at the end closer than ever before. “The tunnels?”

“Yes… If you believe Lady Riley is still in the country, I would almost guarantee that’s where she is if you haven’t found her by now.” Constantine answered through a wheeze, but neither Liam nor Leo noticed, as they processed this new information.

“Where? Which estate?”

“I’m not entirely sure which duchies still have one. A lot of the dukes and duchesses opted to have them filled with cement long ago to erase the remnants of what their ancestors used them for. All I know is they are only accessible through a hidden door, likely on the outside, but it won’t be easy to find without knowing what you’re looking for. It will take you underground, but the chambers will have concealed doors as well. I know for a fact the one at the palace remains open, but Portavira and Ramsford are closed.”

“Why is the one at the palace still open?” Leo demanded. “And how do you know so much about this if you’re ‘innocent’?” He air quoted.

“My father’s father brought forth plans to fill it, but uprisings started and it got lost in the hands of time. As far as my knowledge of it, I was young and curious once as well. There is a book in the library that has a lot of useful information on it, and I know for a fact that it has not moved from its spot on the shelf.”

“How?”

“Maybe I knew in my subconscious that something wasn’t right, and I wanted to ensure it was there so I knew it wasn’t being used to gain access.” Constantine shrugged. “As long as it was there, I didn’t have to face the possibilities of what I allowed to happen, I suppose.”

“Yeah? How’d that work out?” Leo rolled his eyes but centered his attention on Liam. “Applewood, maybe?”

“Yeah… Yeah — that makes the most sense, right?” Liam responded, his mind racing a million miles an hour. Every muscle in his body shook as wave after wave of adrenaline rushed through him. “Perhaps I’ll send teams to all the duchies.”

“Not a bad idea — knock ‘em all out at once, and we can’t leave any stone unturned. And I think we should check all of them, despite what he claims.”

“I agree, boys,” Constantine hoarsely interjected.

“Don’t even act like you helped us at all. You knew about all of this and never said a word to me about it! And you had Bastien fucking me around this entire time!” Liam bellowed.

Constantine let out a slow breath and spoke in a low, quiet voice. “I understand you’re upset. However, I truly thought she safely returned to New York. Bastien mentioned none of these things to me, nor you. Granted, perhaps I should have stayed more on top of the situation. I was aware of the deaths, but you never told me there was foul play involved or that you suspected Bastien. If you had come to me sooner, I would have told you what I knew.”

“Yeah, I bet you would have.” Liam huffed.

“I would have, Liam. I never meant for this to happen — all I wanted was to ensure you and Cordonia would be safe after I’m gone. It was my duty as Cordonia’s king—”

“No, it wasn’t! And you’re behind Olivia leaving too?”

“She’s far too irrational to sit on the throne, Liam. I knew if you had her as an option, you would choose her.” Constantine’s face contorted as the knife in his chest suddenly twisted. He somehow pushed through it, but the pain only flourished, alternating between sharp, sudden jabs and a dull, throbbing ache. “You still tried to select her, but I assumed she would speak to you and not leave without saying a word.” He breathed, his face turning a bright shade of pink.

“I don’t understand something—” Leo spoke with furrowed brows. “Why was all Riley’s stuff in Applewood?”

“I didn’t have any part of that. I was not interested in taking things from her — I only wanted her to leave.” He wheezed. Liam and Leo both continued to glare at him, but their fury and curiosity blinded them from seeing their father’s deteriorating state.

“One more,” Leo went on. “If you were behind the scandal, why’d you drop it during the coronation of all moments?”

“That was the only hiccup in the ordeal that I knew of; the timing. I realized Liam would have an adverse reaction, but it was supposed to be released early enough to give him some time to let the general shock wear off.” Constantine rasped, and that’s when Leo finally took notice of his father’s struggles. Despite his sideways feelings, a surge of concern bolted through him.

“Wow…” Liam spoke before Leo could address their father's state. He shook his head, tears of rage and devastation stinging the corners of his eyes. “You played me like a goddamn fiddle and I let it happen. You had everything planned out, down to my emotional needs.” He indignantly laughed, the sound sending waves of uncertainty through everyone.

“I — I’m sorry, son. I regret what I’ve done, and I hope one day you’ll be able to forgive me for getting caught up in this—”

“Don’t hold your fucking breath.” Liam snapped.

“I’m willing to do whatever I can to help you find her, Liam.” Constantine held a shaky hand over his chest as the pain intensified, momentarily taking his breath away. Leo rose to his feet, torn between his brother's wrath and his father's struggles, but Liam continued before he concluded what to do.

“How can I trust you? You knew about all of this! I think you know much more than you’re leading on, too!”

Constantine’s mind raced so fast, but he tried with all his might to fight off whatever was happening within his body. “I’ve told you all I know, son. I will gladly assist you in any way possible from here on out.”

“You’re going to be lucky if you don’t wind up in the infirmary next to Bastien, or worse,” Liam snarled as he slowly rose from his seat. “Who?”

“Pardon?”

“Who was it? Who came to you that night in Lythikos?” Liam stalked toward him with his hands balled into fists at his sides, his steps loud and menacing. He didn’t even notice Constantine’s struggles — all he saw was the monster who destroyed his life and decimated everything he’d ever cared about. “This is your only chance to come clean because if I have to ask again, you won’t like how I get the answer.” He scowled.

Constantine stumbled upright and took another ragged breath, but realized he was no longer getting any airflow. He coughed, but his hands flew to his neck after, helplessly clawing at his throat. He suddenly gasped for air and grabbed at the front of Liam’s shirt, his knees buckling under his body weight. His eyes were nearly black as the dilation swallowed his iris, but his sclera was tinted with a bright shade of pink.

“What the—” Liam started, but soon recognized the problem. Constantine’s complexion somehow went from a shade of red to white within an instant, his gasps becoming more panic-laced by the second. One moment they were face-to-face, but the fear Liam saw staring back at him momentarily took him aback; it wasn’t a terror rooted around being caught, but something much deeper. His body tensed, the hands securely holding onto his jacket turning white and shaking from the intensity of the seizing. Constantine choked on his saliva, struggling for air, but soon let out an anguished, blood-curdling cry.

The next instant, Constantine crumpled to the floor, his entire body going limp.

Before Liam or Leo could register what happened, the guard stationed close by was already on site. The man spoke into his earpiece and summoned medical professionals to their location, a frenzy of lights approaching in the distance nearly instantly. Constantine’s eyes were open but nobody was home, and before too long, the man had no choice but to start CPR.

Liam could only stand, frozen in place, unable to focus on anything else. He wanted to look away so badly, but couldn’t gather the strength. He felt every push against his father’s chest as if it were his own, and his pulse soon matched the rhythm of the compressions. An overabundance of emotions filtered through him; betrayal, fear, anger, regret, and guilt. Constantine shredded their bond into a million pieces, and he couldn’t find it within him to be sad; he desperately wanted to feel any inkling of remorse that his father might have just taken his final breath right before him, but he wasn’t, and that made him question if he was a monster in disguise all along, too.

He fixated on the fact that Constantine knew who did this and, right now, he wasn’t sure he would get to hear that tale. His heart yearned for Riley, but every time he got even a drop of information, he only met an abrupt wall. He’d almost grown accustomed to having the tiny shrivels of hope dangled in his face and then yanked away, but this time, he couldn’t simply shake it off and pretend like they had the situation under control, because they didn’t.

The abyss of insanity Liam teetered for so long pulled itself dangerously closer. His father had aggressive, end-stage lung cancer, and something like this should come as no surprise. But — for his clock to stop ticking at that exact moment seemed too convenient and at some point, the term coincidence just couldn’t apply anymore. Any other time, he wouldn’t have questioned it, but he instantly fell into a pit of madness as he internally debated the facts.

He couldn’t decide if this was nature taking its course, or a different force pulling strings.

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belencha77 · 28 days ago

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🎄🎅🎄CAPITULO ESPECIAL - NAVIDAD🎄🎅🎄

🔥Ⓜ️

Durante los días posteriores al atentado, me ocupé de los preparativos navideños en el Palacio. Las luces iluminaban el edificio cada noche, y el árbol de Navidad en la sala principal evocaba cálidos recuerdos de mi infancia, cuando mi abuela y yo adornábamos nuestro hogar. Estos momentos, junto con los Carter, siempre estarán en mi corazón.

En el centro de Cordonia, animamos a la gente a decorar el árbol de la plaza principal. La comunidad recibió la idea con entusiasmo, y me emocionó ver cómo se acercaban al espíritu navideño. Esta celebración, antes reservada para la familia real, ahora une al pueblo con Liam, revelando su lado más humano y cercano.

Liam está demostrando un reinado más humano y accesible. A diferencia de su padre, se acerca al pueblo, comparte alegrías y trabaja para aliviar penas. Aunque su liderazgo está siendo puesto a prueba tras los recientes atentados, Liam continúa esforzándose por ganarse completamente la confianza de su gente.

Juntos, visitamos hospitales y refugios, y organizamos una fiesta en un orfanato donde los niños recibieron regalos. Ver su alegría fue un bálsamo en medio del miedo que aún sentimos. Estas celebraciones ayudan a calmar la ansiedad y a traer una renovada felicidad a Cordonia, aunque la recuperación aún continúa.

24 diciembre, temprano en la mañana.

Hoy es un día especialmente emocionante para mí. Es 24 de diciembre, y estoy esperando ansiosamente la llegada de mi padre y mi hermano para celebrar las festividades juntos. Me levanté temprano, llena de entusiasmo, lista para recibirlos. Sin embargo, al despertar, noté que Liam no estaba en la habitación. Aun así, la emoción no se desvaneció; estoy feliz de ver a mi familia después de tanto tiempo.

Michell y Frank no podrán venir, ya que están reuniendo a sus familias para las fiestas. Su relación se está volviendo seria, y eso me alegra mucho. Michell merece ser feliz, y Frank es el hombre ideal para ella.

Liam, siempre tan considerado, ha ofrecido su jet para traer a papá y a Ethan desde Boston, asegurándose de que lleguen a salvo. Saber que están en camino hace que mi corazón se llene de alegría. Aunque no puedo evitar sentirme un poco nerviosa, la felicidad de tenerlos cerca me inunda.

|| ¿Cómo está mi futura Reina? || exclamó Liam, entrando al vestidor con una sonrisa radiante, interrumpiendo dulcemente mis pensamientos.

|| Hola, guapo. Estoy bien, pero... ¿dónde estabas? Me desperté y no te encontré || le digo mientras me acerco, rodeando su cuello con mis brazos y sellando nuestras bocas en un beso largo y apasionado. || Estás completamente vestido y listo para el día ||

|| Salí a trotar al amanecer, pero cuando volví, te vi tan profundamente dormida, tan tranquila, que no tuve el corazón para despertarte. Quería que descansaras. Después, me puse a trabajar en algunas cosas pendientes, aunque no puedo negar que este recibimiento es lo mejor que me ha pasado hoy || dice con una sonrisa que revela cuánto aprecia este momento. Noto que sostiene algo en sus manos, lo que despierta mi curiosidad.

|| ¿Qué tienes ahí? || pregunto suavemente, con una mezcla de intriga y emoción.

|| Oh, esto… es un pequeño regalo para ti || responde, con una ternura que me derrite.

|| Liam… 'pequeño' y 'regalo' nunca van juntos en tu vocabulario || le digo, mientras él ríe suavemente. || Pero... ¿por qué no esperar hasta la noche? ||

|| Porque no podía esperar para darte mi regalo especial de Navidad. Quería que lo tuvieras ahora, para que supieras cuánto significas para mí. Además, es mi manera de agradecerte por todo lo que has hecho en estos días. || Su voz se suaviza, y en sus ojos veo todo el amor que siente por mí.

|| ¿Agradecerme? ¿Por qué? || susurro, conmovida por sus palabras y por el cariño que emana de él. Liam acaricia mi mejilla con delicadeza, mirándome con una intensidad que me hace sentir como si fuera la única persona en su mundo.

|| Porque en medio de todo lo que hemos pasado, tú has sido mi ancla, mi fuerza. La gente de Cordonia está feliz, a pesar del incidente en el Palacio. Se sienten emocionados por los cambios y están contentos con la manera en que estoy llevando el reino. Y todo esto te lo debo únicamente a ti, Riley. Tú has sido el motor detrás de estos cambios, mi mayor apoyo, mi inspiración. Eres la Reina ideal para mí... Siempre supe que eras la elección correcta, pero cada día que pasa, lo confirmo una vez más. Eres lo mejor que ha llegado a mi vida. Este regalo es solo una pequeña muestra de cuánto te valoro. ||

|| Oh, cariño || respondo suavemente, acariciando su mejilla || La gente finalmente está viendo lo que yo siempre vi en ti: esa esencia que llevas dentro de tu corazón. Eres, y siempre serás, un magnífico Rey || le digo, señalando suavemente el lugar donde late su corazón.

|| Gracias por ser la Reina que necesitaba || susurra antes de acercarse y besarme con ternura. || Y bueno, ¿estás emocionada por ver a tu familia? ||

|| Claro que sí... Estoy muy ansiosa por verlos || respondo, mientras Liam mira su reloj y sonríe.

|| Por cierto, deben estar por llegar al Palacio. El piloto me llamó para avisarme que estaban cerca. ||

|| Perfecto... ¿Sabes algo de Leo y Katie? ||

|| Leo me dijo que Katie está a punto de dar a luz, y no quieren arriesgarse a un viaje tan largo en este momento. Pero pronto los visitaremos o, cuando puedan, ellos vendrán. ||

|| ¡Qué emoción! Finalmente, un bebé en la familia. Estoy deseando conocerlo || exclamo, llena de alegría.

|| Sí, yo también muero por conocerlo || responde Liam. Me pierdo un momento, imaginando lo maravilloso que sería ser madre y tener un pedacito de los dos en una sola persona. Leo y Katie se conocieron en Grecia hace unos tres años. Ella es estadounidense, y su amor fue tan inmediato como el nuestro. Leo abdicó por ella, buscando felicidad en Washington, lejos de Cordonia. || ¿Riley? || Liam me saca de mis pensamientos. || ¿En qué piensas, amor? ||

|| En lo hermoso que sería ser madre y tener un pedacito de los dos en una persona || confieso. Liam me abraza y me besa en la frente.

|| Yo también lo anhelo. Algún día lo haremos realidad. || Con una sonrisa, Liam me entrega una elegante caja azul. || Bueno, ahora quiero que abras esto. || La abro con cuidado y descubro una gargantilla de oro blanco con un zafiro azul en forma de gota. Sorprendida, llevo las manos a mi boca, con lágrimas asomando en mis ojos.

|| Liam… ¡Es absolutamente hermosa! || exclamo, conmovida.

|| No tanto como tú || respondió Liam, su voz cargada de ternura. Con una sonrisa sincera, añadió || Quiero que la uses en la cena. Pruébatela. || Él retiró mi cabello con delicadeza y colocó la gargantilla alrededor de mi cuello. Cuando terminó de ajustarla, Liam me dijo con una mirada llena de amor || Mírate ||

Me acerqué al espejo, y la visión de la joya adornando mi cuello me dejó sin aliento. Era una obra de arte, reluciendo con un brillo que parecía capturar cada chispa de la luz.

|| Es perfecta… Me encanta, Liam. ¡Gracias! || exclamé, con la voz temblando de emoción mientras me giraba para abrazarlo con fuerza.

|| Ver tu felicidad es el mayor regalo para mí, amor || dijo Liam, envolviéndome en sus brazos con una sonrisa que reflejaba su propia alegría.

|| Bueno, ya que estamos en el intercambio de regalos anticipados || le dije con una sonrisa traviesa || Yo también tengo algo para ti. || Tomé su mano con suavidad y lo guie hacia la habitación. Una vez allí, fui a uno de mis cajones y saqué un regalo envuelto con esmero. Lo coloqué cuidadosamente en sus manos y le dije con una sonrisa || Aquí tienes, amor. ||

Liam tomó la caja con curiosidad y comenzó a rasgar el papel lentamente. Sus ojos se iluminaron al descubrir un libro antiguo y majestuoso.

|| ¡Vaya! Este libro se ve increíblemente antiguo y especial… || comentó, admirando el regalo.

|| Lo es || le respondí con una sonrisa amplia || Es un libro escrito a mano que narra la historia de Cordonia. ||

|| ¡Wow! ¿Escrito a mano? Entonces este libro en sí mismo es una pieza de historia || dijo Liam, asombrado.

|| Así es… Pero lo que realmente quiero que veas es el capítulo final || le sugerí con una mezcla de emoción y nerviosismo mientras él pasaba las páginas hasta llegar al final. Su expresión pasó de asombro a confusión.

|| Pero ¿Por qué en blanco? ||

|| El futuro de Cordonia está en tus manos, y el próximo capítulo será completamente tuyo. Espero que esté lleno de paz, prosperidad y, sobre todo, amor. Preferiría más romance que intriga. || Me reí suavemente, provocando que él sonriera emocionado.

|| Mi amor, la única intriga amorosa que me interesa es la que estoy viviendo contigo, mi hermosa prometida, que pronto será mi esposa y reina. || Liam cerró el libro con cuidado y apoyó una mano en su portada. || Es el regalo más considerado que he recibido. Que lo que me has dado siempre me sirva como un recordatorio potente de lo que realmente significa ser rey. Te agradezco desde el fondo de mi corazón. ||

|| De nada, mi Rey. || Le respondí, mientras Liam me sonreía. Depositó el libro sobre una mesa cercana y cerró la distancia entre nosotros, abrazándome y mirándome a los ojos con amor. Luego se inclinó para un beso apasionado. Lo atraje hacia mí, encontrándome con ese beso impaciente y profundo.

|| ¡Me encantas, Riley! || exclamó Liam, mientras el beso continuaba. Su lengua jugueteaba artísticamente con la mía, y sus manos exploraban mi cuerpo con una pasión ardiente. Él me sonreía mientras me guiaba hacia atrás, llevándome hacia la cama. Me tropecé y mis piernas se enredaron con las suyas, pero me negué a romper el beso. Finalmente, mis piernas golpearon el borde de la cama, haciéndome caer sobre las mantas. Liam se arrastró sobre mí, sus cálidos labios encontrando los míos de nuevo en un instante. Luego, sus labios rozaron mi piel, dejando un rastro de besos por mi pecho y cuello antes de volver a encontrar mis labios. Me besó con avidez y pasión, sus dedos deslizando hábilmente debajo de mi ropa, haciendo que mi piel se erizara completamente. Pasé mis manos por su espalda dura, descendiendo lentamente hasta su trasero perfecto. Sentí su sonrisa debajo del beso. Sus manos se deslizaron más abajo de mí, y de repente me detuve. Él intentó desabrochar mi vestido, pero puse una mano sobre la suya para detenerlo, sonriendo con picardía || Riley, ¿por qué paras? Te necesito. ||

|| Voy a desnudarme para ti. || Respondí, deslizándome rápidamente fuera de la cama.

|| Wow… Eso me encantaría ver. || Se apoyó sobre sus codos en la cama, mientras yo le daba la espalda y tarareaba una melodía baja y entrecortada. Moví mis caderas lentamente al ritmo de la música, buscando la cremallera de mi vestido y arrastrándola lentamente por mi espalda. Me burlé de él, mostrando poco a poco mi piel desnuda mientras él sonreía || Cielos, Riley, eres irresistible y … || Su voz se cortó cuando giré para mirarlo, perdiendo el hilo de sus pensamientos. Lentamente comencé a deslizar mi vestido por mi pecho, luego por mis caderas, hasta que cayó completamente al suelo. Mantuve la mirada fija en Liam y me acerqué lentamente, bailando sensualmente para él.

|| ¿Te gusta lo que ves? || le pregunté, y él extendió sus manos, jalándome hacia él.

|| Ven aquí. || Exclamó, besándome con urgencia, mientras sus manos se movían por toda mi piel desnuda. Yo, a su vez, trabajé rápido con su ropa, lanzándola al suelo para que se uniera a la mía en una pila. Mi corazón latía con fuerza mientras rodábamos juntos por la cama, nuestros cuerpos entrelazados. Enterré mi cabeza en su cuello, trazando la curva de su mandíbula con mis labios. Suspiré al sentir sus manos recorriendo mi piel, sus yemas acariciándola. Mi respiración se detuvo cuando sus dedos se movieron entre mis piernas, urgentes y ardientes || Es imposible pensar con claridad cuando te veo así… Me encanta ver cómo te hago sentir. || Sin decir nada, le pellizqué la oreja, tomando el lóbulo entre mis labios. Su respiración se aceleró, y sus jadeos se volvieron más profundos || Mmmm... Me encanta verte desnuda... perfecta... Y saber que eres mía, solo mía... ||

|| Siempre seré tuya, Liam… || Respondí sin vacilación. Él me besó con más fuerza, sus dedos moviéndose de nuevo en mí, haciendo que la pasión floreciera en mi cuerpo como un fuego salvaje. Mis gritos exclamarían su nombre. Liam no me hizo esperar. Suspiré al unirnos finalmente, nuestros cuerpos complementándose. Sus manos tomaron las mías y las guiaron sobre mi cabeza. Capturó mis labios, besándome mientras sus caderas se movían contra mí. Envolví mis piernas alrededor de su cintura mientras él movía las caderas con un ritmo cada vez más intenso, gimiendo mi nombre en mi oído.

El fuego salvaje en mí se descontroló y onduló deliciosamente a través de todo mi cuerpo, desde la punta de la cabeza hasta la punta de los pies. Clavé mis uñas en su espalda mientras un grito entrecortado se escapaba de mis labios.

♕ ♕ ♕

Un poco más tarde, yacemos en la cama, yo envuelta felizmente en los brazos de Liam. El ritmo suave y relajante de su respiración me arrulla, y siento el cálido subir y bajar de su pecho mientras suspira con satisfacción.

|| ¿Fue ese un suspiro de felicidad o uno más melancólico? || Pregunto con curiosidad, acariciando suavemente su pecho.

|| Creo que un poco de ambos... No puedo creer que esta sea nuestra primera celebración de las festividades juntos. ||

|| Es cierto, es maravilloso. Pero cuéntame, ¿cuál es el suspiro melancólico? ||

|| Supongo que vas a insistir hasta que te lo diga, ¿verdad? || Asiento con una sonrisa traviesa, y él me responde con una sonrisa indulgente || Cuando pienso en dónde estaba yo en esta misma época el año pasado, recuerdo claramente cómo mis padres insistieron en que era el momento de elegir una esposa por razones políticas y tradicionales. Yo, fiel a mi deber, me preparé para una vida de responsabilidades, pero sin amor… Y... ||

Rápidamente interrumpo sus pensamientos presionando suavemente un dedo sobre sus labios.

|| Mi amor, eso ya quedó atrás. No nos enfoquemos en el pasado; celebremos el presente, el futuro, y todo lo hermoso que tenemos y lo que vendrá. || Exclamo, mientras él se ríe, abrazándome con ternura antes de besarme suavemente.

|| Tienes razón. Con corona o sin ella, tener tu amor me convierte en el hombre más afortunado del mundo. ||

|| Liam, te amo con todo mi corazón. ||

|| Y yo te amo a ti, Riley... Más de lo que podrías imaginar. || Me besa de nuevo, con una intensidad que hace que me pierda en el calor de sus abrazos y la dulzura de sus labios.

|| Creo que tenemos que prepararnos para salir. || Digo con una sonrisa juguetona. || Pero por tu culpa, tendré que arreglarme de nuevo ||

Él se ríe y me atrae hacia él en un beso profundo y ardiente.

|| ¿Solo mi culpa? || Me responde, y yo sonrío con picardía.

|| Está bien, de ambos... Pero será mejor que nos vistamos pronto. ||

Mientras me levanto de la cama para recoger nuestra ropa del suelo, siento su mirada fija en mí, llena de admiración. Me visto rápidamente cuando, de repente, alguien toca la puerta de nuestros aposentos.

|| Riley, ¿estás ahí? || La voz de Hana llama desde el otro lado, rompiendo el hechizo del momento. ¡Mierda! Exclamo mentalmente, sintiendo la urgencia de prepararnos.

|| ¡Voy! || Grito mientras me apresuro hacia la puerta. || ¡Dame un segundo! ||

Abro la puerta principal y me encuentro con Hana, que me recibe con una sonrisa animada.

|| Amiga ¡Tu familia ya se encuentra aquí! || Anuncia Hana con entusiasmo. Al ver mi aspecto algo desaliñado, sus ojos se agrandan ligeramente. || Oh, lo siento, no quería interrumpir... ||

Un súbito nerviosismo me invadió, y traté de disimularlo lo mejor posible.

|| No, no es nada || respondí, notando que mis palabras salían un poco atropelladas. || Solo estábamos... Bueno… ¿Y dónde están? || pregunté, desviando rápidamente la conversación. Hana, al darse cuenta de mi ansiedad, sonrió ampliamente.

|| Después de dejar su equipaje en sus suites, se encontraron con Maxwell, quien los llevó a un pequeño tour por la casa. Creo que iban hacia el salón de baile || explicó, mientras yo fruncía el ceño.

|| ¿Al salón de baile? || pregunté con incredulidad || ¡Santo cielo, Hana, será mejor ir antes de que Maxwell haga alguna locura! Solo dame un minuto para arreglarme || dije apresuradamente, corriendo hacia mi habitación. Al entrar, encontré a Liam dándose los últimos retoques frente al espejo. || Mi familia ya está aquí, pero necesito retocarme un poquito antes || dije, mientras me miraba en el espejo y notaba el desorden en mi cabello y maquillaje después de nuestro momento íntimo. Mientras arreglaba mi cabello y retocaba mi maquillaje, observé a Liam en el reflejo, ajustándose la chaqueta y pasando una mano por su cabello para darle un toque final || Espero que Maxwell no intente enseñarles a Ethan o a mi papá el tobogán eléctrico || dije riendo, intentando relajarme mientras él se reía conmigo a través del espejo.

|| Con Maxwell, cualquier cosa es posible || responde Liam, sonriendo. || Pero sé que estarán felices de verte, especialmente después de tanto tiempo. ||

Terminé de arreglarme y me acerqué a él para darle un beso suave en los labios.

|| Tienes razón. No tardes mucho, quiero presentarte oficialmente como mi prometido. ||

|| Claro, mi amor… Ve, yo estaré listo en breve. || Responde Liam, con una sonrisa que ilumina su rostro.

Al bajar al salón de baile, me encontré con una escena que me hizo reír. Maxwell estaba en medio de un break dance improvisado, mientras mi papá, Ethan y Susan lo observaban, algunos con asombro y otros con evidente diversión.

|| ¡Por fin están aquí! || Exclamé con emoción, corriendo hacia papá y lanzándome a sus brazos. Lo rodeé con fuerza, sintiendo el calor y la seguridad de su abrazo, mientras él me devolvía el gesto, riendo con esa risa profunda y reconfortante que siempre me hacía sentir en casa.

|| ¡No nos hubiéramos perdido las fiestas en Cordonia por nada del mundo! || Dijo papá, acariciando mi cabello con ternura y mirándome con esos ojos llenos de orgullo y amor. Sentí cómo una ola de calidez me envolvía, y no pude evitar sonreír mientras lo abrazaba aún más fuerte, apreciando cada segundo de ese momento. Maxwell se acercó a mi lado de un salto, siempre lleno de energía.

|| ¡Mi Flor! ¡Estaba mostrándole a tu familia mis mejores movimientos para que los probemos durante la cena! || Exclamó Maxwell con su típica alegría contagiosa, haciendo que soltara una risita. Su entusiasmo siempre lograba hacerme sonreír. Hana también sonrió y no tardó en acercarse para abrazarlo con cariño. Decidí entonces dirigirme a mi hermano, con quien solo había podido hablar un par de veces por teléfono. A diferencia del resto, Ethan se veía serio, observando las payasadas de Maxwell con una mezcla de curiosidad y reserva.

|| Hola, Ethan. Estoy muy contenta de que hayas aceptado venir. || Le dije mientras me acercaba para abrazarlo, poniendo todo mi cariño en ese gesto. Por primera vez, sentí que su respuesta era sincera y cercana.

|| Gracias, Riley, por la invitación. Honestamente, Susan fue quien más insistió en que viniéramos. || Respondió con un tono suave, que me hizo sonreír aún más. Miré a Susan, agradecida, y no pude evitar sentir una conexión especial con ella. Aunque solo la había conocido esa vez en el consultorio, sentí que compartíamos una química natural.

|| ¡Es un gusto verte de nuevo, Susan, y sobre todo, tenerte aquí! || Le dije, abrazándola con genuino afecto. Ella me devolvió el abrazo con una calidez

|| ¡Es un placer para mí, Riley! || Dijo Susan con una sonrisa cálida y sincera || Por cierto, quiero felicitarte de todo corazón por tu compromiso. Estoy segura de que tú y Liam serán muy felices juntos || Susan me dijo con sinceridad, y me sonrió con afecto || Estoy muy emocionada por tu boda ||

|| ¡Gracias, Susan! eso nos convierte en dos || Le respondí, emocionada por sus palabras.

|| Más de dos en realidad || Exclamó Liam, mientras entraba al salón con una cálida sonrisa. Al llegar a mi lado, me rodeó la cintura con su brazo, acercándome a él y depositando un dulce beso en mi mejilla.

|| Cariño, ya conoces a mi papá || Le dije, sonriendo.

|| Sam, qué gusto verte de nuevo. Me alegra que hayan llegado sanos y salvos || Dijo Liam, dándole un fuerte abrazo. || ¿Cómo estuvo el vuelo? ||

|| ¡El vuelo estuvo increíble! Qué bueno verte, Liam. Fue muy amable de tu parte enviarnos tu jet. Gracias por la invitación || Respondió papá, claramente satisfecho.

|| No fue nada en absoluto. Después de todo, vamos a ser una familia en pocos meses. Es un placer tenerlos con nosotros || Dijo Liam con calidez.

|| Felicitaciones por el compromiso, mi hija está feliz || Comentó papá.

|| Sam, mi plan en la vida es hacerla feliz || Exclamó Liam, abrazándome y dándome un beso en la frente. Yo sonreí ampliamente.

|| Liam, quiero presentarte a mi hermano, el doctor Ethan Beckett, y a su novia, la doctora Susan Grey || Dije, señalando a Ethan y Susan. Liam les dio una cálida bienvenida y luego puso su brazo sobre mis hombros.

|| Es un gusto conocerlo, Su Majestad || Dijo Ethan, extendiendo su mano con seriedad. Susan, visiblemente nerviosa por conocer a un rey, trataba de ocultar su entusiasmo mientras admiraba a Liam. Sus manos temblaban ligeramente al extenderlas para un apretón de mano y sus ojos no podían apartarse del Liam, claramente impresionada por su presencia y su atractivo.

|| Ethan, por favor, pronto seremos cuñados. Deberías empezar a llamarme Liam || Dijo Liam, luego dirigiéndose a Susan || Y lo mismo va para ti, Susan ||

Susan, intentando calmar su nerviosismo, sonrió y asintió con la cabeza, sin responder de inmediato hasta que Ethan la codeó delicadamente.

|| Eh… este… Claro, Liam. Encantada de conocerte || dijo Susan, su voz temblando ligeramente mientras reía nerviosamente, mostrando su emoción al encontrarse con un rey tan carismático.

|| Es maravilloso tenerlos a todos aquí. Bienvenidos a Cordonia || respondió Liam, ajeno al pequeño percance. Vi la oportunidad de suavizar el ambiente y decidí presentar a los demás. Extendí las manos hacia donde estaban Maxwell y Hana, sin demasiados rodeos.

|| Bueno, ya conocieron a Maxwell y a Hana || dije, señalándolos con una sonrisa. Maxwell, fiel a su estilo, hizo un comentario que provocó algunas risas, pero no quise alargar el momento. Ethan parecía querer decir algo, pero lo interrumpí antes de que pudiera hacerlo. Justo entonces, el sonido de la puerta nos hizo girar. Drake y Sara entraron en la habitación, y su llegada fue el momento perfecto para cambiar de tema || Llegaron en el momento preciso || exclamé, aliviada por la interrupción. || Drake, ya conoces a todos, pero familia, quiero que conozcan a Sara. Sara, estos son mi padre, Sam, mi hermano, Ethan, y su novia, Susan. ||

Sara se acercó, extendiendo su mano con una cálida sonrisa.

|| Un gusto conocerlos || Dijo Sara, mientras se acercaba a saludar a los presentes. Papá, emocionado por la llegada de su familia, respondió con calidez. Sin embargo, noté que las miradas de Drake y Ethan se evaluaban con cautela.

|| ¿Sigues siendo tan grosero y gruñón como la última vez que nos vimos? || Preguntó Drake con el ceño fruncido. Ethan, con una mano en la cadera, respondió.

|| Discúlpame, pero no soy grosero ni gruñón. Soy un profesional, que es muy diferente. Y hasta ahora, no tengo claro quién eres tú ||

|| ¡Ethan! || Susan le dio un codazo en las costillas.

|| ¡Muchachos! || Exclamé, tratando de calmar la situación. Sabía que no se llevaban bien al principio. Liam observaba el intercambio, claramente desconcertado.

|| Bueno, por su reacción… ¿Supongo que ellos dos no se llevan muy bien? || Preguntó Liam, curioso.

|| La verdad es que son muy parecidos, amor. ¡Ambos pueden ser amargos como limones a veces! || Exclamé con una sonrisa.

|| ¡HEY! || Respondieron al unísono ambos hombres. Miré a Drake con severidad, esperando que se comportara. Tras sentir el peso de mi mirada, él se volvió hacia mi familia.

|| Muy bien, lo siento. Empecemos de nuevo || Dijo Drake, extendiendo la mano hacia papá || Sam, es un placer verte de nuevo ||

|| Igualmente, Drake || Contestó papá con una sonrisa || Y, por cierto, quiero agradecerte por salvar a mi hija. Fue un acto muy noble ||

Al escuchar esto, Drake pareció visiblemente nervioso. Su mano tembló ligeramente al estrechar la de papá.

|| No... no tienes que agradecerme, Sam. Lo hice por... || Comenzó Drake, tratando de mantener la compostura. || Lo que haría con cualquier amigo ||

|| Me alegra verte mejor || Dijo papá, con una sonrisa.

|| Sí, mucho mejor... Gracias || Respondió Drake, acercándose a Susan para darle un beso en la mejilla || ¿Susan, verdad? Un placer verte de nuevo ||

Susan asintió y respondió con una sonrisa cálida. Luego, Drake extendió la mano hacia Ethan.

|| ¿Hacemos las paces, doctor? || Preguntó, su tono reflejando una mezcla de nerviosismo y sinceridad. Ethan lo miró con seriedad, pero luego asintió.

|| Está bien, hagamos las paces. Solo por el bien de mi hermana || Dijo Ethan, y luego añadió || Y gracias por todo lo que hiciste ||

|| La paz || Afirmó con una sonrisa que intentaba ser relajada || Como dije, no fue nada ||

De repente, se hizo un silencio incómodo, así que decidí intervenir rápidamente para romper la tensión.

|| Bueno, ¿qué les parece si seguimos al comedor? || Sugerí con una sonrisa, buscando disipar la tensión. || El personal ha preparado algo especial para nosotros. ||

Liam asintió, devolviéndome la sonrisa, y con eso, empecé a guiar al grupo hacia el comedor, dejando atrás cualquier incomodidad y centrando nuestra atención en disfrutar de la velada juntos.

♕ ♕ ♕

Por la noche, disfrutamos de una cena exquisita en compañía de todos, donde intercambiamos regalos y compartimos una conversación amena. La atmósfera estaba llena de alegría, y por un momento nos sentimos como una gran familia unida y feliz. Aunque extrañé a mi mamá, me reconfortó tener a mi papá y a mi hermano aquí conmigo. El miedo causado por el atentado quedó temporalmente atrás, permitiéndonos celebrar estas fechas tan especiales juntos.

Casi a la medianoche, decidimos que era hora de descansar. Mientras Liam y yo caminábamos tomados de la mano por los pasillos, él se detuvo bajo un arco y señaló hacia arriba.

|| Eh, mira eso... || dijo, y allí, en la parte superior, colgaba un muérdago. Bajé la mirada y me encontré con la cálida sonrisa de Liam.

|| Vaya, eso significa que debemos seguir las reglas || respondí con una sonrisa.

|| Por supuesto, no queremos romper ninguna tradición navideña || dijo Liam, acercándose lentamente para besarme. Al separarnos, nos quedamos mirándonos.

|| Te amo, Liam. Feliz Navidad || dije con felicidad.

|| Y yo te amo a ti, Riley... Feliz primera Navidad juntos || respondió él, con una sonrisa que lo decía todo.

If anyone else wants to be tagged, just let me know. I hope you enjoy this wonderful love adventure.

@tessa-liam, @kingliam2019, @choicesficwriterscreations, @delmissesryanandcassi, @OneNoeOne

@scentedeclipseghosteggs, @s0m3thingkmp, @gabycros, @abc-ds-things, @alexabeta

@busywoman, @phantom-of-thee-library, @itsweigel, @peonierose, @fancy--marshmallow

#choices trr #choices the royal romance #choices #liam x mc #liam x riley #trr fanfic #trr liam #trr fanfiction #novela romantica #liam rys #navidad #christmas 2024

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cordonianroyalairlines · 1 year ago

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All I Want for Christmas Part 1

Series: Cordonian Royal Airlines

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings for series: Various

Pairing for this chapter: Riley x Drake, Liam x Max

Word Count: 2,475

Rating: General

Warnings for this chapter: None

A/N: Listen. I had an idea for the @choicesprompts #rewritechallenge holiday edition. I had the whole scene in my head, but then I decided it needed a little lead-up. Then I decided the lead-up needed a lead-up and then these characters completely just took over, threw my script out the window, and took a whole detour to examine a little budding romance between Liam and Max when this story was supposed to be focused on Drake and Riley (and it still is, mostly).

Long story short, it got a little out of hand so I have split it into two chapters. I'm tagging all of the following:

@choicesprompts rewrite challenge, holiday edition TRR x Untamed Heart (one of my all-time favorite movies). @choicesficwriterscreations holiday prompt: Stuck together in the snow; @choicesdecember2023 Christmas and @choicesholidays: This is the worst Christmas ever.

“Goodbye, Mrs. Lassiter, have a pleasant stay!” Riley waved with a smile painted on her face as the last passenger debarked. The smile faded from her face as the guests disappeared down the jet bridge and her eyes took in the heavy snowfall blanketing the runway.

Max noticed her despondent expression. “You okay, Ri?”

She turned toward her best friend and coworker with a sigh. “Remind me again why I volunteered to work this flight?”

“Uh…because your sister is getting married in less than two months, and you needed the overtime to pay for the ridiculous over-the-top bachelorette party she wants.”

“Right. Amelia,” Riley nodded to herself, “I’m doing this for her.”

“I think you do too much for her, Ri,” Max clucked at her like a mother hen, “She takes advantage of your generous nature.”

“Oh, Max, it’s fine. You only get married once!”

He arched an eyebrow at her.

“Okay,” a giggle burst out of her, “Hopefully, she only gets married once!”

“Frankly, I’m surprised she found anyone willing to marry her. Is there something wrong with him?”

“Max!” Riley laughed as she thumped him playfully on the shoulder before turning serious. “I just hope we’re able to take off tomorrow as planned.” Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and she had promised her mother she’d be home so she could spend Christmas day with her parents and siblings.

“I wouldn’t count on it.”

Riley turned toward the voice to find the pilot striding toward them. Captain Liam Rys stopped in front of the flight attendants to announce, “There’s a blizzard headed straight for us.”

“Maybe we could just fly out right now—” Riley started hopefully.

“That’s a negative,” Liam cut her off, “that would put me over my flight limit for the day. We’ll proceed to the hotel as planned and hope for the best but be prepared to spend Christmas here.”

“Remind me why you agreed to fly into Estonia, the blizzard capital of the world, two days before Christmas?” Max grumbled.

Liam’s eyes flicked to him in annoyance. “Because of the obscene amount of money Mr. Lassiter was willing to pay for me to do so. You’ll thank me when you get your next paycheck and there’s a substantial bonus on it, on top of the holiday bonus you just received.”

“It’s okay,” Max shrugged with a tinge of disappointment in his tone, “My brother is in Japan anyway.”

Liam’s expression softened a little. “I’m sure he wishes he could spend Christmas with you.”

“Well, he’s flying with Leo, which he loves. I’m just disappointed that we’re almost never assigned to the same flight.”

Liam averted his eyes, unwilling to tell Max that was on purpose. Bertrand had requested that Max not be on the same flight as himself after the younger Beaumont’s enthusiasm became embarrassing for him. Max had gushed to a passenger about his pride in his older sibling, proudly articulating that, “My brother’s the co-pilot. He’s really good at it. He’s almost good enough to be the pilot!”

Liam shuffled his feet awkwardly, then nodded at Max, “Yes, well…. See you at the hotel.”

“You will?” Max’s head whipped around in surprise. Liam had never expressed an interest in seeing him outside of work before.

“Well, he was a little snippy,” Riley observed as Liam disappeared down the sky bridge.

“But did he seem….I don’t know…interested in-“ a flush crawled up his neck and then flared across his face, “Never mind. Of course not.”

Riley’s brow furrowed. “Interested in what?”

“Nothing. Let’s just get this cabin cleaned up so we can go.”

***

Riley awoke the next morning to sheets of snow pouring from the sky, blanketing the city in white as far as she could see from her hotel window. Which wasn’t that far. The snow was coming down too fast and too thick for her to see past the parking lot.

“Shit!” She aggressively pulled the curtains closed and dove back under the covers.

***

“So, what have you two been up to all day?” Liam asked as the four-member flight crew sat down for dinner in the hotel restaurant.

“Well, I slept in, then I called my mom to let her know I wouldn’t be making it home today and probably not tomorrow either. Then I drown my sorrows in a steaming hot bubble bath.” Riley responded as she pulled the menu over to her.

“Yeah, but then we saw a movie,” Max reminded her. Turning to Liam, he rambled excitedly, “This hotel has a theater in it. There was popcorn and everything! And then we took a cooking class! Can you believe that? The hotel chef hosts a class here once a week, but they did an extra class today because it snowed everyone in.”

Liam smiled at Max’s enthusiasm. “That sounds like fun. Now I feel boring. I read all day. Drake, what about you?”

“What about me?” Drake was busy shoveling a complimentary roll into his mouth.

Riley laughed. “Have you not been listening to the conversation? He wants to know what you did to keep busy today, you dork.”

Drake grabbed his water glass and chugged the cold liquid down to cover the fact that he had not heard a word of the conversation since Riley stopped talking. He was still picturing her in that bubble bath. When he sat the glass down, he responded, “I did my usual morning workout. The gym here is excellent. Since I couldn’t go for a run, I hit the heavy bags and then swam a few laps.”

“How many is a few?” Max asked.

“Twenty.” Drake’s eyes flicked to Max as he answered before landing quickly back on Riley’s face searching for any clue that she was impressed, or at least interested in him.

Not that he cared. She was a coworker, and he didn’t date coworkers.

“All before lunch?” She raised an eyebrow.

He wasn’t sure if she found his morning activities impressive or stupid. Her expression gave away nothing. “I find it hard to sit still,” he answered.

Liam scoffed, “You sit in the cockpit for hours at a time.”

“First of all, that’s different. I’m doing plenty as you well know and second of all, that’s why I need more physical movement when I’m on the ground.”

“Makes sense to me!” Max nodded emphatically as the waitress arrived with the menus.

They ordered their food and ate while making companionable chit chat. After dinner, Max suggested they continue the night across the lobby.

The hotel bar was crowded. The four coworkers quickly parted in the crowd. Drake and Liam navigated to a small table in the back and ordered drinks.

“You don’t want to ask her to dance?” Liam nodded across the room to the dance floor where Max and Riley were laughing and twirling to the music.

Drake followed Liam’s eyes and froze as he watched her sway and shimmy to the thump of heavy base. “I don’t dance.”

“I’ve seen you dance.”

“Not well.”

“So, you’re worried about embarrassing yourself in front of her?”

“What? No!” Drake reached for the tumbler of single malt scotch as the server placed it on the table in front of him and took a long pull as his mind spun with ways to shift the conversation away from his nonexistent love life. “What’s going on with you and Max?”

Liam startled so hard that bourbon sloshed over the rim of his glass. He stared at Drake in a blind panic. “What do you mean?”

“I mean….you usually pay no attention to what the flight attendants are doing when we have layovers. Yet you invited everyone to dinner tonight and you’re the one that was watching them dance. I’m pretty sure you’re not into Riley because if you were, you wouldn’t be pushing me toward her. So that leaves Max. Tell me I’m wrong.”

He lowered his glass to the table with a sigh. “It’s that obvious?”

“To me, but I’ve known you for a long time, Li.”

Liam blew out a long breath. “Shit.”

“Why don’t you just tell him you’re interested?”

“No,” Liam shook his head vigorously, “I can’t do that!”

“Why not?”

“So many reasons! Starting with the fact that I’m his boss and that’s a sexual harassment suit waiting to happen.”

“Not if he likes you back,” Drake countered.

“That’s not likely.”

Again, Drake asked, “Why not?”

Liam scoffed as he gestured toward the dance floor. “I mean, look at him! He’s fun and popular and hilariously funny. And look at those dance moves! He’s interesting and cool. What could he possibly see in me?”

“Hey, don’t sell yourself short, man.”

“I’m a stick in the mud and you know it. I was the president of my debate team. He was the lead in his school’s production of Beetle Juice.”

“How do you know- “

“Bertrand told me.”

“So, you’ve been pumping his brother for information?”

“Not the point. He’s amazing and fun and talented and I’m….me.”

“Liam, come on, man, you-“

“When I was twelve, I read law books for fun.”

“Geez, okay. Never mind. You’re definitely going to die alone.”

“Shut up,” Liam laughed, “I know you think I’m being dramatic.“

“You fly planes for a living,” Drake reminded him. “In my experience, a lot of people find that sexy.”

“Yes, well, I know your experience is quite extensive in that area but-“

“Are you calling me a man whore?”

“If the shoe fits….” Liam muttered into his drink.

“Insult me all you want, but it isn’t going to change the fact that you’ve got it bad. You should just tell him.”

“Oh, okay, Mr. I don’t like Riley.”

Fuck. Drake took another long drink. The conversation had come full circle. His eyes drifted across the room to find her again. She was still with Max.

***

Riley led Max off the dance floor and to a table as she flagged down a server for some water. “What’s up with you tonight?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’ve been acting squirely all night and you keep looking around like you’re searching for somebody. What’s that about?”

Max flushed, “Ah….I think I might have a thing for Liam.”

“Wait…what?” Riley shrieked, then clapped her hands over her mouth.

“I don’t know….” Max dropped his eyes to the table. “I mean, you know, he’s hot or whatever.”

“Max!” She slapped his shoulder. “Since when? And why didn’t you tell me?”

He shrugged. “Just recently I’ve started to notice him more, that’s all. He’s always being nice to me and- “

“He’s nice to everyone.”

“I know, but it’s more than that! I can’t explain it, okay? It’s just…the way he looks at me sometimes….”

“I have never seen you act shy before! You hit on that model last week!”

“Oh, him? Yeah, but that was just--”

“That man is an international star, and you had zero qualms asking for his snap.”

“I know, but- “

“And he gave it to you!”

“Sure, but Liam isn’t just a pretty face, Riley! He’s so fucking smart and serious. He’s sophisticated, and there’s just no way he’d be into a goofball like me.”

“Ah, Maxey, anyone with half a brain would be into you.”

“You’re just saying that because you’re my best friend.”

“Yes. But also because it’s true.”

“No, it’s not. I’m the general fuckup in my family. Just ask Bertrand. Or my father.”

“Max, you’re not a fuckup!” Riley admonished. “You’re just different from your brother and father, thank God! I’m sorry, I know you love him, but Bertrand is the most boring man alive, and your father is a dick, so please don’t judge yourself by his opinion of you.”

“Bert’s not boring. He just had to grow up fast. My father put a lot of pressure on him and he, unlike me, rose to the challenge. I mean, look at us. He’s a pilot and I’m a flight attendant. Do you remember what my father said when I told him I wanted to be a flight attendant?”

“Yes, but on the bright side, it was the first time he acknowledged your sexual orientation.”

Max snorted, “That’s not funny, Riley.”

“You laughed.”

He bumped her shoulder with his own with an amused shake of his head, “If your point is that my father is a homophobic, controlling, abusive asshole whose opinion should mean nothing to me or anyone else with a lick of self-respect, then point taken.” He lifted his glass to her.

She lifted hers and tapped it into his with a grin. “My work here is done. Now go over there and ask him to shoot darts or something.”

***

“All right, well, this has been fun, but I’m going up to bed now.” Liam pushed away from the table and stood up, stretching as he did so.

“You really are a stick in the mud,” Drake laughed as the server cleared their table and asked if he could get them anything else. “Yeah, an unopened bottle of what we’ve been drinking tonight.”

Liam turned to go but froze as a voice that sent heat shocking through him spoke, “Hey…Liam….you wanna…go play darts or something?”

He turned to find Max smiling at him. Trying to push down the rising panic in his throat, his eyes flicked to Drake, who just gave him an amused smile, then back to Max, who looked uncharacteristically nervous. “Uh…. sure.”

“Great!” Relief washed across Max’s features. Then he remembered himself and begrudgingly turned to include Drake in the invitation. “Would you like to join us?”

“Nah, I’m good. You two go ahead. I’ve got a bottle of top-shelf whiskey, and this hotel has steak on their room service menu. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay then, goodnight and Merry Christmas,” Liam didn’t meet Drake’s eyes as he waved bye and then followed Max to the dart boards lined up against the far wall.

Drake chuckled to himself as he took the bottle from the server and thrust a handful of bills at him. He started for the door, then thought better of it and backtracked to the bar, reaching across and grabbing a clean tumbler to take to his room with him.

He had to dodge a bunch of drunk people on his way back, causing him to veer off course until he was damn near on the other side of the room.

It wasn’t so much that he saw her as he felt her presence. His head lifted and his eyes somehow went straight to her despite the dozen or so people between him and the table she was seated at. Without making a conscious decision, his body angled in her direction, and he made his way over to her, reminding himself the whole way that he didn’t get involved with coworkers.

#cordonianroyalairlines #trr au #the royal romance #drake x mc #drake walker #liam rys #maxwell beaumont #liam x max #christmas 2023 #drake x riley #choices fic writers creations #cfwc fics of the week

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ownworldresident · 1 year ago

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Side by Side Chapter 1: Not a Fairy Tale

The revamp of a long-ago series because I wrote myself into a corner

Book: The Royal Romance.

Premise: With new additions to their family, King Liam and Rayne must re-evaluate their relationship dynamic.

Themes: Found family, hurt/comfort, angst, fluff, family.

Word Count: 3.2k per chapter, 18 chapters. About 60k.

Note: This story started just after TRR3 ended, and has no association with TRH. Master Masterlist Link

Rayne

"Lady Rayne, I'm afraid I've been asked to escort you out, along with the representatives of House Beaumont."

"But…" Rayne looked from Bastien to Maxwell to the rest of the onlookers but any protest was drowned out by the growing voices of a hundred nobles. A strong hand closed over her arm.

"And now Prince Liam must choose a wife."

"Liam!" Rayne called out, but barely heard herself. Her heart pounded and she ripped her arm from Bastien's grip, searching the ballroom for a set of familiar blue eyes.

Bastien grabbed her again, firmer this time, and she couldn't break it. The royal guards began to pull her and the Beaumonts toward the exit.

"I choose… Lady Madeleine."

"No!" Rayne cried, still searching the ballroom, but there were too many people between them. Then she finally caught his eye, and there was real fear there.

Rayne grimaced again as the pain rocked through her. She kept thinking she was adjusting, but every wave was incrementally worse.

"You're doing really well, Rayne," said one of the nurses. "Breathe through it. That's it, perfect."

The pain subsided but left an echo, and she used the reprieve to turn to the closest nurse, tightening her hold on the sheets.

"Where is Liam?" she asked for the umpteenth time. "Is he close?"

"I'm sure he'll get here as soon as he can." The young nurse smiled, rested a hand on her wrist, then moved back around the bed. It was the same answer as every other time and useless to her now.

"Liam…" Rayne's chest ached in his absence.

"Keep an eye on her blood pressure," the midwife said, standing at the end of the bed. Rayne hardly heard the conversation after that. She had never imagined this without him, and the empty space was the loneliest she had felt since leaving New York.

Too soon she was wrenched back by another contraction. It was worse, longer, and closer. She grit her teeth, focused on the room, and breathed through it.

The lights went out and the panic started. Rayne recognised gunshots, but could see nothing, and crouched with hands over her head as bullets ricocheted and people began to scream.

Someone grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

"We need to get out of here!" Drake's voice. She gripped his hand and hurried with him, people colliding with her as they, too, tried to escape.

"What about Li-" She tripped on her gown and hit the ground hard.

The lights came on. Drake was above her again. She could see Liam surrounded by men in dark clothes, fighting alongside his guards.

"Rayne, focus!" Drake pulled her up again and they turned to the exit, and came face to face with a masked man. He raised a gun. She froze. Drake shoved her back. The shot went off, and his body collided with hers as the force of the bullet pushed them back.

Drake

Drake burst into the hospital and rushed to reception, heart pounding. The parking lot had been full, and he had run two blocks to see her, and the woman behind the desk looked up with some surprise. It usually annoyed him that he was recognizable enough as Liam’s friend, but it helped now.

"Has King Liam arrived?" He asked, harsher than intended. The woman shook her head, and Drake ran a hand over his face. “Has he been contacted?”

"His Majesty is in a meeting. He will be advised of the situation when he is done."

He stared at her. "Are you serious?"

"Yes." She didn't look enthused about it. "I'm sorry, but those are our instructions."

Drake swore. “Unbelievable,” he muttered as he pulled out his phone and called him.

Voicemail.

He hung up, called again, and again, then left a frustrated voicemail and an equally short and sharp text message. No longer puffing, he returned his attention to the receptionist, debating whether to go and drag Liam back here or not. When he considered leaving her, though, the choice became easy.

“Is she in her room?” he asked, already starting toward the ward, which required a keycard to access.

“Yes, but… I don’t think you can go in.”

He rounded on her, reigning in his frustration and reminding himself she wasn't at fault. “Rayne is my friend, and if Liam isn’t here, I won’t let her go through this alone.”

The receptionist glanced at the door and back to him, unsure, and Drake's impatience started redirecting. Then she moved to the door and opened it. “You know the room?”

“Yes.” He pushed open the door, then paused, and glanced back. “Thank you.”

Along the passage, he pulled out his phone again to send a message to someone else. And then he was hurrying to her room, pushing open the door, and being overwhelmed by the number of medical staff. Four of them at least, all fussing, but looking up as he entered. And then there was Rayne, red faced and sweating on the bed. Her eyes were closed, hands holding fistfuls of the sheets. Drake reached her side, taking Liam’s empty place, and took up her hand with both of his. She looked up.

“Drake?” she muttered, breathing heavily. “Where is….” she gasped, gritting her teeth.

"He's coming," Drake said. "He'll be here."

Rayne shook her head, exhaling sharply and looking up at the midwife.

"That's it," said the woman. "We're almost on the home stretch but I need you to start pushing soon, okay?"

"No I can't…" She forced through a few long breaths. "I can't…"

"Yes, you can."

"I can't… Liam isn't here,” she whimpered, then, more clearly, "I need him here."

"I'm sorry, Rayne, but your babies can't wait for him. It's got to be now."

There were tears in her eyes. Drake grabbed the small damp towel beside him and tried to wipe her brow. "You can do this," he said gently. "We can't control when Liam arrives, but I'm here, and I'll stay as long as you need, okay?"

She nodded, tightening her fingers around his, and for a moment he thought she was calming, but when she turned her face to him it was tight with pain in more ways than one. "I… I don't think I can do this without him."

"I really hope you don't have to," he said, squeezing her shoulder.

"He promised me," she said in a small voice. Drake's chest tightened at the dismay in her words, and he mentally added more pressure to the punch Liam would receive when he finally got here.

Liam

The door slammed open and Liam stopped mid-sentence as his brother ran into the room. There were twenty council members, a sonographer, his assistant and three guards in the room, and every one of them looked up as well. A couple of the councillors began to object, but for Liam, one look at Leo’s expression was enough. He stood.

“It’s Rayne,” Leo said, catching his breath, “she’s in labour.”

Liam vaulted the horseshoe table, knocking documents and pens and even a water glass but that didn't matter. He yelled for his assistant to call the car around and sprinted after Leo to the palace entrance.

When they arrived, the car wasn’t there, but Leo’s bike was, key still in the ignition. Liam frowned, and he caught on.

“You sure?” he asked.

“Got a spare helmet?”

“In the box, yeah.”

“Then yes.”

“Alright then.” Leo strode to the bike, and Liam ignored the part of him that knew this was too dangerous without more protective gear. His brother chucked him the spare and pulled on his own as Liam did the same. He'd ridden them before, as driver and passenger, but he could love them like Leo did.

Helmet in place, Leo turned back, paused a moment, then shrugged off his leather jacket.

"Swap," he said, holding it out.

"What? Why?"

"If something happens and we come off, it'll be my fault, and there's no way I'm getting your blood on my hands. You want to ride, put this on."

Liam stared at him, not that they could make out faces, but there was no time to argue, the car still wasn't here. He removed his blazer, swapped it for the leather jacket, got on behind Leo and secured himself there.

"Sure about this?"

"Just drive."

He revved the engine, kicked up the foot, and accelerated.

They raced through the gates just as the SUV pulled into view and Liam second guessed the decision, reminded suddenly and forcefully all the reasons he preferred a car. He held his brother tighter. Too exposed, too exposed. Useless thoughts. Focus.

Faster than a car manoeuvring the bends, Liam was barely by the time they reached the city outskirts. He wanted to ask what Leo knew, what he should expect, and in the absence his mind raced with possibilities. And the failure...

They pulled up at a red light.

"What do you know?" he asked immediately, then repeated, louder.

"Got a message from Drake." Leo called back. "Didn't catch the time he sent it. Could've been an hour, maybe more. Came straight to you when you didn't answer your phone."

Green Light before he could respond. Leo shot ahead of the traffic, coming up behind other cars and weaving through them with a speed and confidence that another day would make Liam fear for their lives. His stomach turned but he ignored it. Over an hour? How long ago has it started? Was Drake with her? Was she in pain? Of course she would be, and had promised…

Pedestrian crossing. Leo pulled up again. They were getting to the heart of the city now and couldn't go as fast. For all the power he had as a monarch, he longed to clear the roads now. A woman with a pram and a toddler crossed in front of them.

"Why wasn't I informed?"

"Drake's message said they were told not to say anything."

"By whom?"

"Didn't say."

But only one person other than him had that power. He swore, tightening his hold.

"Watch it!" called Leo, and Liam relaxed his grip. They were getting close. They would be followed by half a dozen speeding tickets but that didn’t matter; they were getting there.

He had promised. Promised Rayne he would be there for this, to help her through it, support her in the most painful hours of her life. But he wasn't, and every minute he wasn’t there was a minute she faced this alone.

Suddenly the private hospital loomed and they pulled up at the entrance. Liam leapt off the bike, pulled off his helmet, raced inside and through to the maternity ward.

He drew curious glances as he went, but reached reception quickly.

"Where is Rayne?" he demanded.

"Her room, Your Majesty." She hurried to the ward entry and opened it. Liam nodded as thanks, his heart beating hard, and rushed into the ward. Was he too late? Would he hear her cries? Was she asking for him?

He spotted a familiar face in the hall, leaning against a wall with a mug in one hand and running a hand through his hair.

“Drake,” he said as he approached. His friend turned fast and stared at him. First with eyes wide, then narrowed. “Is Rayne-”

“Here,” Drake cut him off, setting his mug down with some force and indicating for Liam to follow. He led them a little ways down the empty hall, then into a room that wasn’t Rayne’s, and closed the door behind them. He turned back when he realised it was empty.

“I told myself I was going to hit you when you finally fucking got here,” Drake snapped. “But I suspect this will hurt badly enough.”

His heart sank. “Did I miss...”

“You sure did. All twelve hours,” he seethed. “I told you the risk was too much. A fucking meeting, Liam? Seriously? You couldn’t wait three weeks? You made a goddamn promise, and you broke it.” He shook his head when Liam tried to speak. “She asked for you the whole time, she was in tears, and I know that because I was here, taking your place, telling her you would be here soon, when I had no fucking clue when you would turn up.”

Liam’s heart plummeted, and no physical pain could match the total and complete agony of breaking the biggest promise of his life. Nothing could ever compensate for that, but he could go to her, and be there… Drake preempted.

“They had to operate,” he said, and Liam paled. “You seriously think I would have left her alone if I had a choice? C-section. Something about her blood pressure. That’s all I could get, but she’s unconscious and there are about a dozen doctors and nurses in there right now. I guess you can be the one who meets them first or whatever.”

He’d not known what to expect when he got here. Maybe that he’d get here in time, be able to hold her hand and reassure her. Be able to share the moment when they met their children… Like they had talked about… And now, once again, he had failed her.

Drake

Liam was ten levels of frozen anguish and Drake’s heart went out to him, but he was still too irritated to comfort his friend. At least he’d refrained from physically injuring him, though that pain would be a walk in the park compared to whatever debilitating agony hit him now. He knew Liam, and knew how he would -or would fail to- process this. That wasn’t his problem right now.

“Head out to where I was waiting. Someone will let you know when you can go in.” He turned and opened the door again, then paused. “Congratulations.”

Before Liam could respond, he was heading out to the waiting rooms further out to make some calls. Rayne meant more to his friend than anything, and their situation was shitty, but he’d been vocal enough about that in the past, and nothing changed.

Leo was waiting there on his phone with Liam’s jacket folded roughly beside him.

“Shit,” Leo said, standing as he noticed Drake enter the room. “You okay?”

“What?” Drake blinked, realised how tight his expression was, and rubbed his temples as he smoothed it. “Fine. You got my message then.”

“Yeah, but not for a while as you ah, can probably tell. Sorry about that.” He winced. “Did we make it?”

Sighing, he shook his head. “Not quite.” He explained the situation quickly, keeping it factual and leaving out some of his words to Liam, then finished with, “I’m gonna call the others,” and pulled out his phone as he walked away from Leo, who was grimacing. He needed something to do.

Why he called Maxwell first, he didn’t know.

“Drake! How are you?” Maxwell’s sudden voice shocked him back, out of frustration. “Whatcha calling about?” Again, Drake filled him in quickly. “Little blossom! Oh no! I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“That really isn’t--”

“I’m coming from Ramsford, I’ll be a while, and there’s no way I’d miss saying hi!”

“Okay, then.”

Maxwell hung up, and Drake located Olivia’s number.

“Walker,” she answered quickly, sounding distracted.

“Olivia, you--”

“No! Put that down. I said the red one. This is not what I pay you for!” The call was followed by some muffled conversation before Olivia’s voice became clear again. “Sorry, Walker. Go on.”

“Remember how you asked to be told when Rayne was in labour?”

“Of course. But she’s not due for a few weeks. Why the reminder?”

“It happened early,” he said, and she swore.

“I’ll be there later today, but I’m flying from Lythikos, so it won’t be for a while.” She paused. “How’s Liam?”

“He… uh…” Drake rubbed the back of his neck. “He’ll be fine.”

“I see.” Olivia quieted, apparently picking up on his tone. “I’ll get in touch when I land at the airport.” She hung up, and Drake lowered his phone to stare at it.

Calling them would have been his least favourite activity, but at least it had given him something to occupy his mind. Now all he had were images of Rayne, the strength of her grip on his hand, and the struggle in her face to breathe through the pain before the doctors realised something was wrong. He wasn’t sure her fear would ever fade in his memory.

Taking a deep breath, he reentered the waiting room, grabbed two bottles of water from the vending machine, and slumped down beside Leo, who was fiddling with a cord of some kind.

“Thanks,” Leo said as he took one of the bottles and twisted off the cap. Then both fell to silence, and waited.

Liam

The wait was maybe twenty minutes but it felt like hours. People moved in and out of Rayne’s room, and others moved along halls, sparing him glances as he stared at the ground in front of him, and every time he thought someone was approaching him his heart raced, but then they would move on. What if something happened? He had read about this, they both had read about everything, but hadn’t expected this to actually happen. There had been nothing to indicate it would. What if one of the babies was hurt? Or didn’t make it? His chest tightened at the thought, to the point where breathing was a struggle, but surely they would have said something? Surely the voices -though he couldn’t make out the words- would be more panicked? He shuddered. If he lost her… If they lost a child…

“King Liam?”

He looked up fast to see a young nurse with hands clasped before her and a small smile.

“Everything went smoothly. Rayne is still unconscious, but the general anaesthetic will wear off in ten to fifteen minutes.” She smiled a little wider as he stood. “Would you like to come and meet them?”

“Yes,” he breathed, the emotion bubbling in his voice, and swallowed as he followed her in a daze into the room.

There was one other nurse still there, tucking in the sides of Rayne’s sheets. Liam approached the bed. Rayne herself was pale, but otherwise looked peaceful, her chest rising and falling as if she were simply asleep. The gauze on her forearm where whatever needle they had used was the only evidence to the contrary. He lifted one of her hands, rubbing his thumb over the back of it, and listed out a long internal apology that he wouldn’t voice with the others in the room. He wanted to be sorry just for today, but truly there were so many things to be sorry for he would be hard pressed to find the words.

One of the nurses left, but the younger one smiled again as he looked up.

“Would you like to meet them, Your Majesty?” She gestured to the two cribs beside her. In a trance he pressed his lips to the back of Rayne’s hand, and moved around the bed to stand beside the nurse. "May I introduce the Crown Prince, and his sister, the Princess." She gestured to each in turn.

As the two tiny, swaddled newborns came into view his heart swelled to bursting and tears pricked his eyes. This was a love he had not known, and there weren't words to describe it. Rayne would laugh at that. 'You always know exactly the right thing to say.' He looked back to her, wishing they could share this moment. 'You do inspire a certain amount of eloquence' he had responded with a wink and she had laughed… laughed, but it was true, and maybe if it weren't she wouldn't be in this situation.

One look back at his newborn son and daughter extinguished the thought. Leaning over the crib of his daughter, he ran a single finger across her entire cheek. As he did, she slowly opened her eyes, and his breath caught. Her face, her nose, his eyes.

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